CVE-2014-5722 in Swiftkey Keyboard+ Emoji
Summary
by MITRE
The SwiftKey Keyboard + Emoji (aka com.touchtype.swiftkey) application 5.0.2.4 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 • 08/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5722 affects the SwiftKey Keyboard + Emoji Android application version 5.0.2.4, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the device and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure network communications.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's implementation of SSL certificate validation, where it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification. This weakness allows attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear to be from legitimate servers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel," as it enables attackers to establish unauthorized communication channels. The application's improper handling of certificate verification creates a trust boundary breach that undermines the entire SSL/TLS security framework.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including credential theft, data interception, and privacy violations. Attackers can exploit this flaw to impersonate legitimate services and capture sensitive information transmitted through the keyboard application, potentially compromising user accounts, personal data, and communication privacy. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise through the injection of malicious content or commands through the compromised communication channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent security risk that remains active until properly patched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate application updates from the vendor to implement proper SSL certificate validation, which should include full certificate chain verification and trust anchor validation. Organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSL traffic patterns and implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible. Users should be educated about the risks of using unpatched applications and the importance of maintaining current software versions. The fix should address the underlying certificate validation logic to ensure proper implementation of X.509 certificate verification, including checks for certificate expiration, proper certificate chain construction, and validation against trusted certificate authorities. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing SSL inspection capabilities to detect and prevent exploitation attempts while maintaining appropriate security controls to protect against the specific attack vectors enabled by this vulnerability.