CVE-2014-5670 in SAS: Zombie Assault 3
Summary
by MITRE
The SAS: Zombie Assault 3 (aka com.ninjakiwi.sas3zombieassault) application 2.56 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 described in CVE-2014-5670 represents a critical security flaw in the SAS: Zombie Assault 3 mobile application for Android platforms. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network communications, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of data transmission between the mobile device and remote servers. The vulnerability affects version 2.56 of the application and exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can undermine the security of sensitive information exchanges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper implementation of certificate verification mechanisms within its SSL/TLS communication stack. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates against trusted certificate authorities. The flaw allows attackers to present maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and potentially modify communications without detection. This type of vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1573.002 which describes the use of untrusted SSL/TLS certificates to bypass security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it can enable comprehensive surveillance and data manipulation capabilities for threat actors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to user credentials, personal information, financial data, or other sensitive content that the application transmits during normal operation. The vulnerability particularly affects mobile applications that handle user authentication, payment processing, or personal data exchanges, making it a significant concern for privacy and security. The attack surface is widened by the fact that this is a client-side vulnerability that can be exploited without requiring access to the server infrastructure itself.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections validate certificates against trusted root authorities. Organizations should implement certificate validation that checks certificate chains, expiration dates, and revocation status before establishing secure connections. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. The remediation process should include thorough code review to ensure all network communications properly validate server certificates and implement appropriate security controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.