CVE-2014-5776 in PlayMemories Online
Summary
by MITRE
The PlayMemories Online (aka jp.co.sony.tablet.PersonalSpace) application 4.2.0.05070 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-2014-5776 vulnerability affects the PlayMemories Online application version 4.2.0.05070 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating an exploitable gap in the security architecture that enables malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate verification process where it fails to perform proper validation of SSL server certificates. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms designed to protect user data during transmission. The vulnerability specifically targets the X.509 certificate validation process, which is a fundamental component of secure communications protocols. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation that directly enables authentication bypass scenarios, making it a serious concern for applications handling sensitive user information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft. Attackers can exploit this flaw to impersonate legitimate servers and establish fraudulent connections with the application, potentially capturing sensitive user credentials, personal information, or other confidential data transmitted through the application. The vulnerability affects users of Sony's PlayMemories Online tablet application, which likely handles personal media content and user account information, making the potential attack surface particularly valuable to threat actors.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes the use of phishing attacks through fraudulent certificates to gain unauthorized access to systems. The flaw creates an environment where attackers can successfully execute credential harvesting attacks by presenting crafted certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly for applications handling sensitive data where secure communications are critical. The lack of certificate verification in the application's SSL implementation creates an inherent trust model that can be easily subverted by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring that the application validates certificate chains against trusted Certificate Authorities, and implementing robust certificate verification processes. Security updates should include mandatory certificate validation procedures that align with industry standards for secure communications. Organizations using this application should immediately implement security patches or updates that address the certificate validation weakness. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of cryptographic functions within mobile platforms.