CVE-2014-5669 in 9GAG - Funny pics
Summary
by MITRE
The 9GAG - Funny pics and videos (aka com.ninegag.android.app) application 2.4.10 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-2014-5669 affects the 9GAG Android application version 2.4.10, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue resides within the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms, which are fundamental components of secure network communications. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting crafted certificates that the application accepts without proper validation, thereby undermining the integrity of the secure communication channel between the mobile device and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation procedures when establishing SSL connections. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application does not adequately verify the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the X.509 certificate verification process, which is designed to ensure that clients are communicating with legitimate servers and not with malicious intermediaries. When an application fails to validate these certificates properly, it creates an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and backend services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft scenarios. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish fraudulent communication channels with the 9GAG application, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data that flows through the compromised application. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile applications that handle user authentication, personal data, or financial information, as the man-in-the-middle attack vector allows for comprehensive data exfiltration. The attack can be executed without requiring physical access to the device or sophisticated technical knowledge, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may not be security-aware.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption techniques that can be used to exfiltrate data through compromised communication channels. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers spearphishing and social engineering attacks that can leverage weakened security controls in mobile applications. Organizations should implement certificate pinning strategies, regularly update their security libraries, and conduct thorough security assessments of mobile applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, this issue highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST Mobile Security Guidelines, which emphasize proper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation and secure communication protocols in mobile applications.