CVE-2014-5651 in Share! Print Photos
Summary
by MITRE
The Kicksend: Share & Print Photos (aka com.kicksend.android) application 3.3.2.18 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 • 08/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5651 affects the Kicksend: Share & Print Photos Android application version 3.3.2.18, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the necessary checks that would normally verify certificate authenticity, issuer legitimacy, and cryptographic strength. This omission creates a man-in-the-middle attack scenario where attackers can intercept communications and present forged certificates that the application accepts as legitimate. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a failure in the application's secure coding practices that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of communications between the mobile application and its backend services. Users of the affected application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information through compromised channels, potentially exposing personal photos, user credentials, or other confidential data to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels, undermining the trust model that users expect from mobile applications that handle sensitive information. This flaw particularly impacts the application's security posture when handling user-generated content and personal data transfers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5651 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL stack. Developers must ensure that all X.509 certificates are validated against trusted certificate authorities, with proper checks for certificate expiration, domain matching, and cryptographic strength. The solution involves implementing robust certificate pinning techniques and ensuring that the application performs thorough verification of server certificates before establishing secure connections. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish proper security testing procedures to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications. This vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and demonstrates the critical need for secure coding practices in mobile application development. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and man-in-the-middle attacks, emphasizing the broader security implications of inadequate certificate validation in mobile applications.