CVE-2014-5832 in hanabank
Summary
by MITRE
The hananbank (aka com.hanabank.ebk.channel.android.hananbank) application 4.06 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-2014-5832 resides within the hananbank mobile application version 4.06 for android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant exposure that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by secure communication protocols. The application's inability to verify server certificates means that it accepts any certificate presented without proper authentication, effectively disabling the certificate validation mechanism that is essential for establishing trust in secure communications.
This technical flaw directly relates to CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The vulnerability creates an environment where malicious actors can execute successful man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack vector involves intercepting network communications between the mobile application and its backend servers, where the attacker can substitute their own certificate for the legitimate one. This allows the attacker to decrypt and potentially modify sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and the banking servers, including but not limited to login credentials, account information, transaction details, and personal identification data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of all communications within the application. Mobile banking applications process highly sensitive financial information and personal data that requires robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access. When certificate verification is bypassed, the application becomes vulnerable to various attack techniques that leverage the trust model of SSL/TLS protocols. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, data tampering, and information disclosure attacks that can result in financial loss, identity theft, and other serious consequences for both individual users and the financial institution hosting the application.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers spearphishing with social engineering, and T1041 which involves data compression to avoid detection. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access to banking applications by creating a trusted communication channel through certificate spoofing. Organizations should implement comprehensive security controls including certificate pinning, regular security audits, and proper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. The remediation approach requires developers to implement proper certificate validation procedures that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implement certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications and ensure that cryptographic implementations meet industry standards for secure communications.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive financial data. Mobile banking applications must maintain the highest security standards to protect user data and maintain trust in the digital banking ecosystem. Without proper certificate validation, even the most sophisticated application security measures can be rendered ineffective, as the underlying transport layer security becomes compromised and vulnerable to various attack vectors that can bypass application-level protections. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing and the implementation of industry-standard cryptographic practices in mobile application development.