CVE-2014-5847 in Big Win Slots - Slot Machines
Summary
by MITRE
The Big Win Slots - Slot Machines (aka com.gosub60.BigWinSlots) application 1.11.2 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 • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-5847 represents a critical security flaw in the Big Win Slots Android application that directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure communications with remote servers. 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 and system integrity. The vulnerability affects version 1.11.2 of the application, which was distributed through the Android platform and potentially exposed millions of users to potential security threats.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should verify the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the server and maintain the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between client and server. However, the Big Win Slots application bypasses this crucial verification step, allowing any malicious actor with the ability to create a valid certificate to impersonate legitimate servers. This flaw directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses the issue of improper certificate validation in secure communications. The vulnerability enables what is commonly known as a man-in-the-middle attack where an attacker can intercept, modify, or steal data transmitted between the vulnerable application and its intended servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications rely upon. Users of the application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information such as personal identifiers, payment details, or other confidential data to servers that appear legitimate but are actually controlled by attackers. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to threat actors who may target the application's user base for financial gain or identity theft. This vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to access user accounts, steal login credentials, or manipulate in-app purchases, depending on the specific data flows within the application. The lack of certificate verification creates a persistent security risk that remains active as long as the vulnerable application version is installed on user devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation within the application code, ensuring that all certificate chains are verified against trusted certificate authorities and that hostname validation is performed. This approach aligns with the security best practices outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and addresses the fundamental flaw identified in the vulnerability. Application developers should also consider implementing certificate pinning techniques to further strengthen the security posture, though this approach requires careful implementation to avoid blocking legitimate certificate renewals. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, as this flaw represents a common pattern in mobile application security that has been documented in numerous other cases throughout the mobile security landscape. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address any confirmed breaches.