CVE-2014-5705 in Sonic CD Lite
Summary
by MITRE
The Sonic CD Lite (aka com.soa.sega.soniccdlite) application 1.0.4 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 • 08/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5705 affects the Sonic CD Lite Android application version 1.0.4, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic 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 exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur when establishing secure communications between the mobile application and remote servers, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the encrypted communication channel.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the Sonic CD Lite application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the essential X.509 certificate verification steps that are standard practice in secure communication protocols. This includes checking certificate validity periods, verifying the certificate authority signatures, and ensuring proper hostname matching between the certificate and the server being connected to. The absence of these verification steps means that any attacker capable of intercepting network traffic can present a fraudulent certificate that the application will accept without question, effectively bypassing the entire SSL security framework designed to protect user data and communications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe implications for user security and privacy. Attackers exploiting this flaw can intercept and manipulate all data transmitted between the application and its servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information, authentication credentials, or personal data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for mobile applications that handle user accounts, payment information, or personal communications, as it allows attackers to establish false trust relationships with users. This weakness undermines the fundamental security model of mobile applications and can lead to data breaches, identity theft, or unauthorized access to user accounts. The impact extends beyond individual users to potentially compromise the entire application ecosystem and the reputation of the issuing organization.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of inadequate SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent surveillance or data exfiltration capabilities. The flaw also relates to T1557 (Adversary-in-the-Middle) techniques where attackers can position themselves between the user and legitimate services to intercept communications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper SSL validation, and network monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation involves implementing robust certificate validation routines that check certificate signatures, validity periods, and hostname matching, along with regular security audits to ensure proper cryptographic implementation practices are maintained across all mobile application components.