CVE-2014-5809 in Smart Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The Smart Browser (aka smartbrowser.geniuscloud) application 2.0 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 • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5809 affects the Smart Browser application version 2.0 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and inadequate certificate verification, which directly compromises the security of data transmission between mobile devices and web servers. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security protocols.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes that are essential for establishing secure communications. When the Smart Browser application establishes an SSL connection, it does not verify the certificate's authenticity through proper validation checks including certificate authority trust, certificate expiration dates, and hostname verification. This omission creates a pathway for malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is a core component of the TLS/SSL handshake mechanism and is defined by standards such as RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate format and RFC 5246 for TLS protocol specification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of communications between affected Android devices and web services. An attacker positioned in the network path can present a malicious certificate signed by a fraudulent certificate authority or simply a self-signed certificate that the application will accept without proper validation. This allows for the interception of sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications that users expect to be protected by SSL/TLS encryption. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent security risk that remains active until the software is updated or the application is uninstalled.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-295 which describes "Improper Certificate Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and T1566 which covers "Phishing". The vulnerability represents a failure in the application's security architecture and demonstrates poor implementation of security controls that should be inherent in all secure communication applications. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader threat landscape where mobile applications are increasingly targeted for security weaknesses, particularly those involving cryptographic implementations. The recommended mitigations include immediate application updates from the vendor, implementation of network monitoring to detect potential certificate anomalies, and user education regarding the importance of keeping applications current with security patches. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and other security controls to provide defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities in other applications that may be present in the enterprise environment.