CVE-2014-5786 in Jewels
Summary
by MITRE
The Jewels & Diamonds (aka mominis.Generic_Android.Jewels_and_Diamonds) application 1.1.0 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 • 09/01/2024
The CVE-2014-5786 vulnerability affects the Jewels & Diamonds Android application version 1.1.0, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure cryptographic implementation, specifically targeting the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network communications. The flaw creates a dangerous trust relationship where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary verification steps that are fundamental to secure communications. This weakness directly violates industry security standards and best practices for mobile application development, as it undermines the core principles of secure network communication and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's omission of X.509 certificate verification routines within its SSL/TLS handshake process. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it fails to validate the certificate chain, check certificate expiration dates, verify certificate signatures against trusted Certificate Authorities, or ensure proper hostname matching between the certificate and the target server. This complete absence of certificate validation creates an attack surface where malicious actors can intercept communications by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-295 - Improper Certificate Validation, which is a well-documented weakness in cryptographic implementations that has been consistently identified as a high-risk security flaw in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user data and system integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept sensitive information transmitted between the application and its servers, including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle sensitive user information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security gaps. This weakness allows attackers to establish fake server endpoints that appear authentic to the vulnerable application, enabling them to capture and potentially modify data in transit without detection. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may be accessing applications over public networks, increasing the exposure window for such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5786 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements in mobile application security. The primary fix involves implementing proper X.509 certificate validation routines that include certificate chain validation, signature verification, expiration date checking, and hostname validation against the server's certificate. Security professionals should ensure that applications utilize the platform's built-in certificate pinning mechanisms when appropriate, and implement proper certificate trust management that aligns with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential man-in-the-middle attack attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to mobile security frameworks that mandate proper cryptographic implementation, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's mobile application security categories. Regular security testing, including penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in mobile applications and prevent exploitation of trust relationships that could compromise user data and system integrity.