CVE-2014-5827 in Better than Coupons
Summary
by MITRE
The Ibotta - Better than Coupons. (aka com.ibotta.android) application 2.5.1 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-2014-5827 affects the Ibotta mobile application version 2.5.1 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile client and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate verification mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the Ibotta application establishes secure connections to its backend services, it does not perform the essential step of validating server certificates against trusted certificate authorities or checking certificate expiration dates and subject names. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby bypassing the fundamental security protections that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to severe data compromise risks including sensitive personal information theft, financial data interception, and potential account takeovers. The attack surface extends beyond simple data interception to include session hijacking and credential theft, as the application's insecure certificate validation allows attackers to establish fraudulent connections that appear legitimate to the end user. This weakness particularly impacts applications handling user credentials, payment information, and personal data, making the vulnerability especially dangerous for financial services and e-commerce platforms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of how mobile applications can undermine security protocols through inadequate implementation of cryptographic best practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) and T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) as attackers can leverage the insecure connections to establish persistent access to user data. The weakness also relates to T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) since compromised connections can lead to credential exposure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating the application to a version that properly validates SSL certificates, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all mobile applications. The fix requires the application to validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates, verify certificate expiration dates, and ensure proper hostname validation. Additionally, security teams should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and implement proper certificate management practices including regular certificate rotation and automated validation processes.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant exposure risks. The incident underscores the necessity for comprehensive mobile security testing, including SSL/TLS certificate validation verification, and emphasizes the need for adherence to established security standards and frameworks to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future mobile application deployments.