CVE-2014-5663 in FreeCell Solitaire
Summary
by MITRE
The FreeCell Solitaire (aka com.mobilityware.freecell) application 2.1.2 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 • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5663 affects the FreeCell Solitaire Android application version 2.1.2, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue represents a critical failure in the application's cryptographic security measures, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The flaw creates a significant security gap that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application, compromising the integrity of data transmission between the mobile device and remote servers.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's improper handling of certificate validation mechanisms within its SSL/TLS stack. Rather than performing proper certificate chain validation, the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and falls under the broader category of weak cryptographic implementations. The absence of certificate pinning or proper trust verification allows attackers to generate or obtain fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and potentially modify communications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to several serious risks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets a widely used mobile application that likely handles user preferences, game state information, and potentially personal data. Attackers could exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and capture sensitive information transmitted through the application's network connections. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potential account compromise and unauthorized access to user profiles that may be stored or synchronized with remote services.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing with Social Engineering," as attackers could leverage the compromised connection to deliver malicious payloads or gather user credentials through deceptive means. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate validation procedures, establishing certificate pinning mechanisms, and ensuring all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain verification. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and implement regular security assessments to identify similar cryptographic weaknesses in mobile applications. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of robust certificate validation in mobile security implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during application development cycles.