CVE-2014-5739 in Garfield's Diner
Summary
by MITRE
The Garfield s Diner (aka com.webprancer.google.GarfieldsDiner) application 1.4.0 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5739 affects the Garfield s Diner Android application version 1.4.0, representing 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 adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's cryptographic security measures, which are fundamental to protecting sensitive information transmitted between mobile clients and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of certificate verification within the application's SSL implementation, allowing attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates. This weakness directly violates standard security practices for secure communication and represents a violation of the principle of certificate pinning and validation that should be implemented in all mobile applications handling sensitive data. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data encryption for exfiltration through compromised communication channels. The application's failure to validate certificate chains, issuer information, and cryptographic signatures creates a pathway for attackers to establish fraudulent secure connections that appear legitimate to end users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive surveillance and data manipulation capabilities for threat actors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other sensitive details transmitted through the application's network communications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may be accessing the application from public networks or unsecured WiFi connections, making the attack surface even more expansive. Mobile security frameworks and industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 and OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines explicitly recommend robust certificate validation mechanisms to prevent exactly this type of attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation within the application's network layer. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform comprehensive certificate verification including chain validation, expiration checking, and issuer authentication. The application should implement certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, and incorporate proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Security patches should enforce strict certificate validation routines that align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their mobile application portfolios. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all cryptographic implementations and adherence to established security frameworks such as those defined by the Open Web Application Security Project and the Mobile Security Project guidelines.