CVE-2014-5736 in Buy Coins
Summary
by MITRE
The Buy Coins (aka com.wBuyCoins) application 0.62.13364.24150 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 described in CVE-2014-5736 represents a critical security flaw in the Buy Coins Android application version 0.62.13364.24150 which fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during secure communications. This weakness creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates to unsuspecting users. The application's failure to implement proper certificate verification mechanisms directly violates fundamental security principles for secure network communications and exposes users to potential data interception and theft.
This vulnerability stems from the application's improper implementation of SSL certificate validation, specifically the absence of X.509 certificate verification during the TLS handshake process. The flaw allows attackers to establish fraudulent secure connections by presenting malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The application essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic validation checks that should confirm certificate authenticity, issuer legitimacy, and proper domain matching.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete session hijacking capabilities for attackers. When users interact with the application, their sensitive information including personal data, financial details, and authentication credentials can be intercepted and manipulated by malicious actors positioned between the user and legitimate servers. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of all communications between the Android application and remote servers, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling financial transactions or personal identification information. This weakness directly enables the attack pattern described in ATT&CK technique T1041 which involves data encryption for impact and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or network manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper SSL certificate validation that includes checking certificate chains against trusted root authorities, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring domain name matching between the certificate and the target server. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate pinning techniques to prevent the use of unauthorized certificates even if they are cryptographically valid. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar certificate validation flaws in other applications and services. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and aligns with security framework requirements such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and TLS security practices.