CVE-2014-5863 in mpang.gp
Summary
by MITRE
The mpang.gp (aka air.com.cjenm.mpang.gp) application 4.0.0 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5863 represents a critical security flaw in the mpang.gp Android application version 4.0.0, which operates under the domain air.com.cjenm.mpang.gp. This application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The flaw stems from improper certificate verification mechanisms that allow malicious actors to present fraudulent certificates and establish deceptive secure connections with the victim's device. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of certificate-based authentication and trust establishment in cryptographic communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests in the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL handshakes. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it accepts any certificate presented without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities or checking that the certificate matches the intended server hostname. This weakness enables attackers to intercept communications by presenting a malicious certificate that appears legitimate to the application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation and certificate pinning failures in security protocols. Attackers can exploit this by setting up rogue servers or leveraging compromised certificate authorities to present forged certificates that the application will accept without question.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass comprehensive session hijacking and credential theft capabilities. An attacker positioned in the network path between the Android device and legitimate servers can seamlessly redirect traffic through their own infrastructure while maintaining the appearance of secure communication. This allows for the theft of session tokens, personal identification information, financial data, and other sensitive user credentials that the application processes during normal operation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects mobile applications that likely handle user authentication, payment processing, or personal data access, creating opportunities for extensive data breaches. According to ATT&CK framework category T1573, this vulnerability enables adversaries to conduct secure communication channel manipulation and data interception attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5863 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation procedures within the application's SSL/TLS stack. Developers must ensure that the application performs comprehensive certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and certificate authority trust checks before establishing secure connections. The solution involves implementing certificate pinning mechanisms that explicitly define which certificates or certificate authorities are acceptable for the application to trust. Additionally, the application should validate certificate expiration dates, check certificate revocation status through OCSP or CRL mechanisms, and ensure that the certificate's subject matches the expected server hostname. Security patches should be deployed immediately to address the root cause, and developers should adopt industry best practices such as those outlined in OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including SSL/TLS certificate validation during the development lifecycle.