CVE-2014-5648 in Chat
Summary
by MITRE
The Chat, Flirt & Dating Heart JAUMO (aka com.jaumo) application 2.7.5 for Android does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
The CVE-2014-5648 vulnerability affects the JAUMO Android application version 2.7.5, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's handling of encrypted network connections, where the software fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates presented by remote servers. The vulnerability stems from the application's lack of certificate verification mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security protocols. Such a deficiency allows malicious actors to establish fraudulent connections with the application, effectively bypassing the security measures designed to protect user data transmission.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The application's failure to verify X.509 certificates means that it accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper authentication checks, including self-signed certificates or certificates issued by untrusted certificate authorities. This weakness creates a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and modify communications between the mobile application and its backend servers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects sensitive data transmission, potentially exposing user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data exchanged through the application's communication channels.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability significantly increases the risk profile for users of the JAUMO application, as it undermines the integrity of all data transmitted between the mobile client and remote servers. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers, redirect users to malicious endpoints, or simply eavesdrop on sensitive communications. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to inject malicious content, modify user sessions, or perform session hijacking attacks. This represents a severe compromise of user privacy and security, particularly concerning an application that handles personal relationships and potentially sensitive user information.
The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user accounts or to conduct surveillance activities through the compromised communication channels. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning mechanisms, proper SSL/TLS certificate validation, and regular security assessments of mobile applications. The fix requires updating the application to properly validate X.509 certificates against trusted certificate authorities, implementing certificate chain validation, and ensuring that the application rejects certificates that fail verification checks. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous certificate behavior and potential man-in-the-middle attack indicators.