CVE-2014-5826 in Rix GO Locker Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The Rix GO Locker Theme (aka com.jiubang.goscreenlock.theme.rix.getjar) application 1.20.2 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-2014-5826 represents a critical security flaw in the Rix GO Locker Theme Android application version 1.20.2. This application, designed to provide visual themes for the GO Locker screen lock interface, demonstrates a fundamental failure in implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. The flaw exists within the application's network communication stack where it fails to perform essential certificate verification procedures that are standard practice in secure mobile applications. This oversight creates a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application accepts any certificate presented by a remote server without proper verification of the certificate chain, issuer, validity period, or cryptographic integrity. The application essentially trusts all SSL connections regardless of whether the server presents a legitimate certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority or a maliciously crafted certificate. This behavior violates fundamental security principles established in mobile application security frameworks and exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the application and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Attackers can leverage this weakness by positioning themselves between the vulnerable application and legitimate servers, presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This allows them to decrypt and manipulate communications, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data that the application may be transmitting to remote servers. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application but also any data that might be synchronized or transmitted through the compromised communication channel, creating a potential escalation path for more sophisticated attacks.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering and network attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it targets mobile applications that users trust and frequently interact with, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to user devices. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that GO Locker applications are typically installed on devices that contain sensitive personal and corporate data, making the potential damage from a successful exploitation significantly higher than in typical mobile applications. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring and endpoint detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts, while users should be advised to avoid installing applications from untrusted sources that may contain similar vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application updates from the vendor to implement proper certificate validation, deployment of network security controls such as SSL inspection and certificate pinning, and comprehensive security assessments of all mobile applications within organizational environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to mobile security best practices and implementing certificate pinning mechanisms that prevent applications from accepting any certificate other than specific trusted certificates. Additionally, regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar implementation flaws in other mobile applications that may be vulnerable to the same class of attacks.