CVE-2014-5803 in Towers N Trolls
Summary
by MITRE
The Towers N Trolls (aka project.android.ftdjni) application 1.6.4 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-2014-5803 affects the Towers N Trolls mobile application version 1.6.4 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks against users. The flaw directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure communications with backend servers, undermining the fundamental security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper handling of certificate validation mechanisms within its network communication stack. When the Android application establishes SSL connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the essential certificate verification steps that should confirm the authenticity and trustworthiness of the server's identity certificate. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the security measures intended to protect user data and communications. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for securing communications channels through improper certificate validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft scenarios. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and its backend services, including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications. The man-in-the-middle attack vector becomes particularly dangerous when users connect to unsecured or public networks, as the attacker can more easily position themselves between the application and the legitimate server. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of all data exchanged through the application's SSL connections, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5803 should prioritize immediate codebase modifications to implement proper certificate validation procedures. Developers must ensure that the application performs comprehensive X.509 certificate verification, including checking certificate expiration dates, validating certificate chains, and confirming that certificates are issued by trusted certificate authorities. The implementation should include certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate to further strengthen security against certificate spoofing attacks. Additionally, the application should be updated to use current SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suites that meet contemporary security standards. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle activity and establish regular security auditing processes to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. This remediation effort directly addresses the weaknesses identified in the ATT&CK framework's methodology for securing network communications and aligns with industry best practices for mobile application security.