CVE-2014-5787 in Ninja Chicken
Summary
by MITRE
The Ninja Chicken (aka mominis.Generic_Android.Ninja_Chicken) application 1.7.6 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5787 affects the Ninja Chicken Android application version 1.7.6, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, specifically within its certificate validation mechanisms.
This technical flaw constitutes a classic man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications between the Android application and remote servers. The application's inability to verify server certificates means that it accepts any certificate presented by an attacker, regardless of its legitimacy or trustworthiness. This weakness allows attackers to establish fraudulent SSL connections that appear legitimate to the victim application, enabling them to eavesdrop on communications, modify data in transit, or inject malicious content. The vulnerability directly violates established security protocols for secure communication and authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure mobile applications must maintain. Attackers exploiting this weakness can obtain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications that the application is designed to protect. The implications are particularly severe given that mobile applications often handle highly sensitive personal and financial data, making this vulnerability a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to maximize their attack surface. This weakness creates a persistent threat that remains active as long as the vulnerable application version is installed on user devices.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5787 align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in SSL/TLS implementations. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, representing credential access through phishing with a fake certificate, and T1041, which covers data encryption for exfiltration. Organizations and users should immediately update to patched versions of the application, implement network monitoring to detect potential certificate anomalies, and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile security architectures and highlights the need for robust security testing and validation processes in mobile application development.