CVE-2014-5857 in White
Summary
by MITRE
The White & Yellow Pages (aka com.avantar.wny) application 5.1.1 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 • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5857 resides within the White & Yellow Pages Android application version 5.1.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability manifests when the application establishes secure connections with remote servers, as it neglects to perform certificate verification checks that are fundamental to maintaining trust in cryptographic communications.
The technical flaw represents a classic case of improper certificate validation, which falls under the CWE-295 category of "Improper Certificate Validation." The application's SSL implementation lacks proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking mechanisms that are essential for establishing secure communications. When the application connects to SSL servers, it accepts any certificate presented without verifying its authenticity, validity, or trustworthiness. This omission creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where adversaries can intercept communications by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including data interception, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications between the application and its servers, potentially capturing personal information, login credentials, or other confidential data transmitted through the vulnerable connection. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potential corporate data breaches, as the application may be used to access business-critical information or services that rely on secure communication channels. This vulnerability particularly affects users in public network environments where man-in-the-middle attacks are more prevalent.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5857 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can establish persistent surveillance capabilities against users of the application. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforcing strict certificate validation procedures, and deploying regular security updates to address the underlying SSL/TLS implementation flaws. Organizations should also consider network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate behavior, while developers must ensure comprehensive certificate validation routines are integrated into all secure communication implementations. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of following established security standards and best practices for cryptographic implementation, particularly in mobile applications that handle sensitive user data.