CVE-2014-5848 in Dubstep Hero
Summary
by MITRE
The Dubstep Hero (aka com.electricpunch.dubstephero) application 1.9 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 identified as CVE-2014-5848 affects the Dubstep Hero Android application version 1.9, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification process. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communication sessions. The vulnerability represents a classic implementation of the CWE-295 weakness, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The application's insecure handling of SSL/TLS connections creates an exploitable gap that directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in industry standards for mobile application security.
The technical flaw manifests when the application establishes connections to remote servers using SSL/TLS encryption. Instead of performing proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust anchor checking, the application accepts any certificate presented by the server without sufficient scrutiny. This behavior creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate validation process typically involves checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate signatures against trusted Certificate Authorities, and ensuring the certificate's subject matches the target server's hostname. When these checks are bypassed or inadequately implemented, the security model of SSL/TLS is fundamentally compromised.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain access to sensitive user information and potentially manipulate application functionality. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates create risks for user privacy, financial data exposure, and potential identity theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications, modify data in transit, or redirect users to malicious servers while maintaining the appearance of legitimate connections. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive services such as banking, social media, or personal communication platforms that rely on secure connections.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5848 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. Application developers should implement proper SSL certificate validation using established cryptographic libraries that enforce certificate chain validation and hostname checking. The fix involves configuring the application to reject certificates that fail standard validation procedures, including expired certificates, untrusted Certificate Authorities, and mismatched hostnames. Security professionals should also consider implementing certificate pinning techniques to further strengthen the validation process. According to ATT&CK framework category T1573, this vulnerability relates to "Modify Authentication Process" and "Proxy Through Victim" techniques that attackers use to compromise secure communications. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of mobile applications to identify similar certificate validation weaknesses and ensure compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 27001 for cryptographic security controls.