CVE-2014-5771 in Credit Union of Texas Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Credit Union of Texas Mobile (aka Fi_Mobile.CUOT) application 1.1 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The Credit Union of Texas Mobile application version 1.1 for Android presents a critical security vulnerability through its improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw resides in the application's cryptographic implementation where it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The vulnerability creates a dangerous trust relationship between the mobile client and remote servers, allowing malicious actors to exploit the absence of certificate validation through man-in-the-middle attacks. Such attacks enable adversaries to establish fraudulent server connections while maintaining the appearance of legitimate communication channels, thereby compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data transmitted between users and financial services.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or signature validation checks that are fundamental requirements for secure SSL/TLS communications. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture. The absence of certificate pinning mechanisms or robust certificate validation routines means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. Attackers can exploit this by generating and presenting malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the entire SSL/TLS security framework designed to protect sensitive financial information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of mobile banking applications that handle highly sensitive personal and financial information. Mobile banking applications require stringent certificate validation to prevent attackers from accessing user credentials, account balances, transaction details, and other confidential data. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to impersonate legitimate financial services, potentially leading to unauthorized transactions, identity theft, and financial fraud. This weakness particularly affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it enables attackers to both read sensitive communications and modify data in transit without detection.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate code modifications to enforce proper certificate validation, implement certificate pinning for critical endpoints, and establish robust certificate management procedures. The remediation process should involve integrating standard SSL/TLS validation libraries that properly verify certificate chains, implement hostname checking, and enforce signature validation. Security controls should align with industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security testing including penetration testing and certificate validation audits to ensure proper implementation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established cryptographic standards, particularly when handling sensitive financial data in mobile environments where the attack surface is inherently expanded due to device-specific security considerations and network exposure characteristics.