CVE-2014-5675 in Phonegram - Instagram Download
Summary
by MITRE
The Phonegram - Instagram Download (aka com.pinssible.padgram) application 1.9.5 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-2014-5675 affects the Phonegram - Instagram Download Android application version 1.9.5, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security model designed to protect sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and web services.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests as a missing certificate verification mechanism within the application's SSL implementation, which directly correlates to CWE-295, "Improper Certificate Validation." The application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking that are essential components of secure SSL/TLS communication. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper scrutiny. The vulnerability exists at the transport layer security implementation level, where the application should be enforcing certificate pinning or at minimum performing standard certificate validation procedures to ensure server authenticity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user privacy and system security. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt and manipulate communications between the Android application and Instagram's servers, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel," and T1566, "Phishing," as it creates conditions that facilitate both data theft and social engineering attacks. Users who download and install the affected application become vulnerable to attacks that can compromise their Instagram accounts, personal photos, and other information stored or accessed through the application interface.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach includes implementing certificate pinning to ensure that only specific trusted certificates are accepted, along with proper hostname verification and certificate chain validation. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate certificate validation failures. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and adherence to established security standards, particularly in mobile applications that handle sensitive user data. The issue underscores the necessity of following OWASP Mobile Top 10 guidelines and implementing proper cryptographic security measures to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar certificate validation flaws in other mobile applications and ensure that security measures remain effective against evolving attack techniques.