CVE-2014-5865 in Ask.com
Summary
by MITRE
The Ask.com (aka com.ask.android) application 2.2.5 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 • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5865 represents a critical security flaw in the Ask.com Android application version 2.2.5, specifically targeting the application's SSL certificate verification mechanisms. This weakness falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is a well-documented security risk that can compromise the integrity of secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers. The vulnerability creates an exploitable condition where the application fails to properly validate the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers, fundamentally undermining the cryptographic security measures designed to protect user data.
The technical implementation flaw occurs at the SSL/TLS certificate validation layer within the Android application's network communication stack. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it does not perform proper X.509 certificate chain validation, certificate expiration checks, or hostname verification procedures. This omission allows attackers to intercept communications through man-in-the-middle attacks, where malicious actors can present fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper scrutiny. The vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in industry standards such as CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data compression and encryption for data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user information transmitted through the application. Mobile users who interact with the Ask.com application become susceptible to various attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and data interception. The vulnerability particularly affects users who may be connecting through unsecured networks such as public wifi hotspots, where the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks is significantly elevated. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture login credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data that users might input or receive through the application, potentially leading to identity theft and financial fraud.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5865 require immediate attention from both application developers and end-users. Application developers must implement proper SSL certificate validation by incorporating robust certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring that certificates are verified against trusted certificate authorities, and implementing hostname verification checks. The fix should include updating the application to validate certificate chains, check certificate expiration dates, and verify that certificates are issued to the expected hostnames. Additionally, implementing certificate pinning techniques would prevent the application from accepting certificates from untrusted authorities, even if they are technically valid. Users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are deployed, and security-conscious organizations should consider network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and aligns with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-52, which provides guidelines for certificate management and validation practices.