CVE-2014-5870 in Kmart
Summary
by MITRE
The Kmart (aka com.kmart.android) application 6.2.8 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-2014-5870 resides within the Kmart mobile application version 6.2.8 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant weakness in the security architecture that enables malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between the client and server. The flaw specifically affects the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing secure communications over the internet. When an application does not verify SSL certificates, it essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that the communication endpoint is legitimate and that data remains confidential and untampered during transit. This vulnerability directly contravenes established security practices and industry standards that mandate proper certificate validation to maintain the integrity of secure communications.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as a missing certificate validation mechanism within the application's SSL/TLS handshake process. The Kmart application fails to perform the standard certificate chain validation procedures that should confirm the certificate's authenticity, proper signing by a trusted Certificate Authority, and validity period compliance. This omission allows attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile device and the application's backend servers. The vulnerability creates a trust boundary failure where the application accepts any certificate without proper verification, essentially rendering the SSL/TLS encryption ineffective. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a classic case of improper certificate validation that aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The flaw operates at the transport layer security implementation level, affecting how the application establishes secure connections with remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, potentially enabling comprehensive man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user credentials, personal information, and financial data transmitted through the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create fake server endpoints that appear legitimate to the application, allowing them to capture sensitive user data including login credentials, payment information, and personal identifiers. The vulnerability particularly affects users who conduct transactions or access sensitive information through the Kmart mobile application, as the compromised security posture could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to personal accounts. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward path to compromise user sessions and data integrity, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes "Exfiltration Over Command and Control Channel" and T1566, which addresses "Phishing for Information", as attackers can leverage this weakness to harvest sensitive data from authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5870 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation procedures within the application's SSL/TLS handling mechanism. Organizations should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that the application only accepts specific certificates or certificate authorities, thereby preventing attackers from using fabricated certificates to impersonate legitimate servers. The application should enforce strict certificate chain validation, verify certificate signatures against trusted root certificates, and ensure proper certificate expiration checks are performed. Security updates must include comprehensive SSL/TLS library upgrades that properly implement certificate verification mechanisms, and developers should implement certificate revocation checking to detect compromised certificates. Additionally, network security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate validation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should align with industry best practices for secure mobile application development and should be validated through proper security testing including penetration testing and certificate validation audits. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mutual authentication and encrypted storage for sensitive data to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.