CVE-2014-5666 in AVD Download Video
Summary
by MITRE
The AVD Download Video (aka com.myboyfriendisageek.videocatcher.demo) application 3.3.13 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-2014-5666 resides within the AVD Download Video Android application version 3.3.13, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This application, designed for video downloading functionality, fails to properly implement X.509 certificate verification when establishing secure connections to SSL servers. The absence of proper certificate validation creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification processes, where it accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic checks that should validate the certificate's authenticity and trust chain.
This flaw directly relates to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The technical implementation error manifests when the application establishes network connections to remote servers that require SSL/TLS encryption for secure data transmission. Instead of validating certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities or performing proper certificate chain validation, the application accepts any certificate presented during the SSL handshake process. This weakness allows attackers to generate or obtain fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate encrypted communications between the user's device and target servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it provides attackers with the capability to obtain sensitive information through crafted malicious certificates. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, data theft, or even inject malicious content into the application's communication streams. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may connect to unsecured or public networks, increasing the likelihood of successful man-in-the-middle attacks. Users downloading videos through this application may unknowingly have their credentials, personal information, or even payment data intercepted and compromised. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002, which describes "Encrypted Channel" tactics where adversaries use compromised or forged certificates to establish secure communication channels for data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain validation, including checking certificate signatures against trusted root certificates, validating certificate expiration dates, and verifying domain name matches. The application should implement certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, and proper error handling must be implemented to reject connections when certificate validation fails. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses in other network communication components. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish secure communication protocols that comply with industry standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and certificate validation practices.