CVE-2014-5817 in Mini Pets
Summary
by MITRE
The Mini Pets (aka com.miniclip.animalshelter) application 2.0.3 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5817 affects the Mini Pets application version 2.0.3 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation 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. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process within the application's network communication stack, where it fails to perform proper validation of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of certificate pinning and validation mechanisms within the Android application's networking implementation. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it does not perform the necessary cryptographic verification steps that should confirm the authenticity of the server's certificate. This absence of certificate validation allows attackers to intercept communications between the mobile application and its backend services, enabling them to present forged certificates that the application will accept without question. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture that undermines the entire SSL/TLS security model.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to personal information stored within the application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, intercepting sensitive user data such as login credentials, personal information, and any other data transmitted through the application's secure channels. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potentially enable broader attacks against the application's backend infrastructure, as the compromised communication channel could allow attackers to manipulate application behavior or access administrative functions. This vulnerability affects the core trust model of the application, making it impossible for users to verify the authenticity of the servers they are communicating with.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain credentials and sensitive information through the established man-in-the-middle capability, while the lack of certificate validation also helps them avoid detection by traditional security monitoring systems that might not flag the absence of certificate verification as suspicious behavior. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning within the application, proper SSL/TLS certificate validation, and regular security audits of mobile application components. The recommended approach involves updating the application to enforce proper certificate validation mechanisms, implementing certificate pinning for critical endpoints, and ensuring all network communications follow secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern SSL/TLS protocols and cipher suites while maintaining compliance with security standards including those specified in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and validation.