CVE-2014-5769 in Local
Summary
by MITRE
The Mobiscope Local (aka ehs.mobiscope.kernel) application 1.05 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 CVE-2014-5769 vulnerability resides within the Mobiscope Local application, specifically the ehs.mobiscope.kernel component version 1.05 for Android operating systems. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanism that fundamentally undermines the integrity of secure communications. The vulnerability specifically affects how the application handles X.509 certificate verification during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system security.
The technical flaw manifests as the complete absence of X.509 certificate verification within the Mobiscope Local application's network communication stack. This means that when the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it fails to validate the authenticity of the server certificates presented during the SSL handshake process. The vulnerability stems from improper implementation of certificate validation routines, where the application accepts any certificate without performing the necessary cryptographic checks that should confirm the certificate's legitimacy, issuer trustworthiness, and proper domain matching. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of secure communication protocols and creates an environment where attackers can successfully impersonate legitimate servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks that can result in comprehensive data interception and exfiltration. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to establish secure-looking connections while simultaneously acting as transparent proxies for all communication between the user and the intended servers. This capability enables attackers to capture sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications that would normally be protected by SSL/TLS encryption. The vulnerability particularly affects mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive services over public networks, making the attack surface even more extensive.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel." The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient cryptographic validation that undermines the core security assurances provided by SSL/TLS protocols. Organizations and users running affected versions of the Mobiscope Local application face significant risk of data breaches and privacy violations, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device management policies may not adequately address third-party application vulnerabilities. The attack vector is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists at the kernel level of the application, suggesting potential for deeper system compromise beyond simple data interception.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate application updates to versions that properly implement certificate validation, alongside network-level monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior. Organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible, deploy network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying certificate manipulation attempts, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of mobile applications. The remediation process must include thorough testing of certificate validation routines to ensure proper implementation of certificate chain verification, issuer validation, and expiration checking. Security teams should also consider implementing mobile device management policies that restrict the installation of vulnerable applications and establish protocols for rapid response to similar vulnerabilities in third-party mobile software components.