CVE-2014-5679 in PopU 2: Get Likes on Instagram
Summary
by MITRE
The PopU 2: Get Likes on Instagram (aka com.popuapp.popu) application 1.7.5 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-2014-5679 affects the PopU 2: Get Likes on Instagram mobile application version 1.7.5 for android platforms. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data transmitted between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user sessions and sensitive information.
This technical weakness constitutes a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation and certificate validation mechanisms, which are fundamental components of secure communications. The absence of proper SSL certificate verification creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where attackers can intercept communications between the mobile application and its backend services. When an application fails to validate certificate chains, it essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or legitimacy. This flaw directly violates security best practices and industry standards for secure mobile application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates create opportunities for attackers to establish fake server endpoints that appear legitimate to the user's device. This allows adversaries to capture sensitive user information including login credentials, personal data, and potentially financial information if the application handles such data. The vulnerability affects the fundamental trust model that secure communications rely upon, undermining the security assurances that users expect from mobile applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of certificate pinning and proper SSL/TLS implementation. The attack vector described in the vulnerability enables adversaries to perform active man-in-the-middle attacks through the use of crafted certificates that can fool the application into establishing secure connections with malicious servers rather than legitimate ones. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where applications often handle sensitive personal information and operate in potentially untrusted network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that the application only accepts certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities or specific certificate fingerprints. The application must perform comprehensive certificate chain validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate signatures, and ensuring proper certificate subject names match the target server. Additionally, security patches should be deployed to enforce proper SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suite selection. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish secure communication channels that adhere to industry standards such as those recommended by NIST and the OWASP Mobile Security Project.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling user data or authentication credentials. Mobile application security requires comprehensive testing of cryptographic implementations and adherence to security frameworks such as the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) and the OWASP Mobile Security Project's top ten vulnerabilities. This specific flaw underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate cryptographic weaknesses that could compromise user data and application integrity.