CVE-2014-5709 in Donut Maker
Summary
by MITRE
The Donut Maker (aka com.sunstorm.android.donut) application 1.27 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-2014-5709 affects the Donut Maker Android application version 1.27, 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 malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate validation process where it fails to perform proper certificate chain verification, hostname checking, or trust anchor validation. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile device and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate verification should occur, but instead accepts any certificate presented without proper validation. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a classic example of how inadequate cryptographic implementation can completely compromise security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can lead to comprehensive data breaches and system compromise. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain access to sensitive user information including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially financial information transmitted through the vulnerable application. The implications are particularly severe given that this affects a mobile application, where users may be conducting sensitive transactions or accessing confidential information on unsecured networks. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1041, which covers data encryption for exfiltration, and T1566, which addresses credential access through social engineering and network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5709 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement robust certificate pinning techniques, ensure proper hostname verification during SSL/TLS connections, and validate certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities. The application must enforce certificate validation at multiple levels including certificate chain building, signature verification, and expiration date checking. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are implemented, and security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar certificate validation issues in other mobile applications and systems.