CVE-2014-5762 in Cut the Rope: Time Travel
Summary
by MITRE
The Cut the Rope: Time Travel (aka com.zeptolab.timetravel.free.google) application 1.3.4 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 • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5762 affects the Cut the Rope: Time Travel Android application version 1.3.4, specifically targeting the application's secure communication implementation. This issue represents a critical failure in the application's cryptographic security posture, where the software neglects to validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The absence of proper certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and remote servers. This flaw directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with legitimate servers while leaving users vulnerable to various forms of network-based attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper SSL/TLS certificate validation within the application's network communication stack. When an Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it should verify the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the endpoint. The Cut the Rope: Time Travel application fails to perform this critical validation step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's secure communication implementation. The vulnerability enables what is commonly referred to as a man-in-the-middle attack scenario where malicious actors can intercept and manipulate communications without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing potential full compromise of user sessions and sensitive information exposure. Attackers exploiting this weakness could intercept user credentials, personal data, payment information, or other sensitive details transmitted through the application's network connections. The vulnerability particularly affects users who engage with the application's online features, including social networking integration, in-app purchases, or cloud-based data synchronization. According to ATT&CK framework domain considerations, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage the compromised communication channel to deliver malicious payloads or conduct credential theft operations. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that this is a client-side vulnerability that affects all users running the vulnerable version regardless of their network environment or security awareness level.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation efforts to implement proper certificate validation mechanisms. The application developers should integrate robust SSL/TLS certificate validation using established cryptographic libraries such as Android's built-in TrustManager implementations or third-party solutions like OkHttp or Retrofit with proper certificate pinning. Security controls should include mandatory certificate validation with certificate chain checking, implementation of certificate pinning where appropriate, and regular updates to the trusted certificate store. Organizations deploying this application should also consider network-level protections such as SSL inspection capabilities and monitoring for anomalous certificate behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and OWASP Mobile Top 10 for mobile application security. Additionally, implementing proper certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits would help detect and prevent similar issues in future releases, ensuring that the application maintains the necessary security posture to protect user data and maintain trust in the platform.