CVE-2014-5652 in Photo Prints
Summary
by MITRE
The Kicksend Photo Prints (aka com.kicksend.android.print) application 1.0.7 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-2014-5652 affects the Kicksend Photo Prints Android application version 1.0.7, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue resides within the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism, which is fundamental to establishing trust between mobile applications and remote servers. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation, a weakness that directly undermines the security foundation of encrypted communications. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate verification within the application's secure communication stack. When the Kicksend Photo Prints application establishes connections to remote servers, it does not perform the necessary validation steps required to ensure that the server's certificate is legitimate and issued by a trusted certificate authority. This omission allows attackers to deploy malicious certificates that appear valid to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and the server. The vulnerability specifically impacts the SSL/TLS handshake process, where certificate validation should occur but fails to do so, creating a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks that can be executed without requiring sophisticated techniques or privileged access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, payment information, or other confidential details that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected application version, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts the entire user base without requiring specific targeting or user interaction. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile applications where users often transmit sensitive information over potentially insecure networks, and the lack of certificate verification creates an environment where attackers can seamlessly impersonate legitimate services.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The flaw also corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the "Credential Access" and "Initial Access" domains, where adversaries can leverage weak certificate validation to establish persistent access to user accounts and sensitive data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to a version of the application that properly validates SSL certificates, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate usage, and educating users about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile applications, as even a single missing validation step can completely undermine the security of encrypted communications and expose users to significant risk of data compromise.