CVE-2014-5682 in Retale - Weekly Ads! Deals
Summary
by MITRE
The Retale - Weekly Ads & Deals (aka com.retale.android) application 2.1.3 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-2014-5682 represents a critical security flaw in the Retale Android application version 2.1.3, specifically targeting the application's handling of secure communications. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is a fundamental weakness in cryptographic security implementations. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and backend services. This flaw directly violates established security protocols that govern secure mobile application development and network communication practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's omission of certificate chain validation during SSL/TLS handshakes. When an Android application establishes secure connections to servers, it should validate the server's certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure authenticity and prevent unauthorized parties from impersonating legitimate services. The Retale application bypasses this crucial verification step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear valid to the application. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and servers. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-295 - Improper Certificate Validation, which is a well-documented weakness in security implementations that has been consistently flagged in industry security assessments and penetration testing reports.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential financial fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Mobile applications that handle personal information, financial transactions, or authentication credentials become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate SSL certificates properly. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create fake server environments that the application trusts, potentially capturing login credentials, personal information, or payment details. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications, undermining the core security assurances that users expect from secure mobile applications. The impact is amplified in applications that process sensitive user data or facilitate financial transactions, as the compromised communications can lead to direct financial loss and identity compromise.
Organizations and developers should address this vulnerability through immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms, including the use of certificate pinning techniques and robust SSL/TLS configuration. The recommended mitigations involve configuring the application to validate certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, implementing certificate pinning for critical endpoints, and ensuring proper SSL/TLS protocol versions are used. Security frameworks such as the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security provide specific recommendations for addressing certificate validation weaknesses. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications and ensure that proper cryptographic practices are maintained throughout the application lifecycle. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under credential access and defense evasion techniques, highlighting the importance of proper certificate validation in maintaining secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.