CVE-2014-5824 in longjiang
Summary
by MITRE
The longjiang (aka com.longjiang.kr) application 2.0.6 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 • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5824 resides within the longjiang application version 2.0.6 for Android platforms, representing 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 vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate verification process that should normally occur when establishing secure connections between mobile applications and remote servers. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation mechanisms where the application fails to properly authenticate the identity of SSL/TLS servers through the standard certificate chain validation process. The implications extend beyond simple data interception, as this flaw directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can be executed without requiring sophisticated technical skills from attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the application's trust model by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. When the longjiang application attempts to establish a secure connection to a server, it accepts any certificate presented without proper verification of the certificate authority or the certificate's validity period. This creates an environment where an attacker positioned between the mobile device and the server can intercept communications and present a malicious certificate that the application will accept as authentic. The attack typically involves the attacker setting up a rogue server or using existing infrastructure to intercept traffic and present a certificate that has been signed by a trusted authority but is not actually associated with the legitimate server. This flaw operates at the transport layer security validation level and affects the fundamental security promise of SSL/TLS encryption.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5824 extends far beyond simple privacy concerns, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive user information including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially financial information. Mobile applications that rely on secure communications for user authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable when operating with this flaw. The attack surface includes any functionality that requires SSL/TLS connections, such as user login systems, data transmission features, or API interactions with backend services. The vulnerability is especially concerning in applications that handle sensitive personal information or financial data, as the man-in-the-middle capability allows for complete data interception and potential manipulation. According to ATT&CK framework tactic T1566, this represents a credential access technique that can be leveraged for broader compromise of user accounts and systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5824 require immediate attention from both application developers and security administrators. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms that validate the server certificates against known good values rather than accepting any certificate from a trusted authority. Developers should implement certificate validation that checks certificate fingerprints, subject names, and issuer information against pre-approved values. Additionally, the application should enforce proper certificate chain validation and reject certificates that fail standard verification checks. Security measures should include updating the application to version 2.0.7 or later, which presumably contains the necessary certificate validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and consider deploying additional security layers such as mutual authentication or application layer encryption. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices and the necessity of following industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project for mobile application security development.