CVE-2014-5692 in Safeway
Summary
by MITRE
The Safeway (aka com.safeway.client.android.safeway) application 4.1.0 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.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5692 affects the Safeway mobile application version 4.1.0 for Android devices, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile client and backend servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure network communications.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of SSL certificate validation within the application's network security framework. When the mobile application establishes connections to remote servers using HTTPS or SSL protocols, it fails to perform the necessary certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust anchor checking that standard security practices require. This omission allows attackers to intercept communications through man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The flaw essentially disables the cryptographic security mechanisms that protect sensitive data transmission, leaving user credentials, personal information, and transaction details exposed to potential interception and manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that users expect from mobile banking and retail applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect traffic through malicious servers, capture sensitive user information including login credentials, personal identification numbers, and financial data, or even modify transaction contents in transit. The vulnerability affects not just individual user accounts but potentially entire customer databases and transaction processing systems that rely on the application's secure communication channels. This represents a critical failure in the application's security architecture and violates fundamental principles of secure software development.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1041, Command and Control, and T1566, Phishing, as attackers can leverage the compromised communication channels to establish persistent access or conduct more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. The lack of certificate verification creates a dangerous environment where attackers can impersonate legitimate services without detection, potentially leading to widespread credential theft, financial fraud, and data breaches that could affect thousands of users simultaneously.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating the application to a version that properly validates SSL certificates, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all mobile applications. The remediation process requires thorough code review to ensure proper implementation of certificate validation routines, including hostname checking, certificate chain validation, and trust anchor verification. Additionally, security teams should establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement network-level protections such as SSL inspection and traffic analysis to identify suspicious communication patterns that may indicate active attacks against vulnerable applications.