CVE-2014-5871 in Piwik Mobile 2
Summary
by MITRE
The Piwik Mobile 2 (aka org.piwik.mobile2) application 2.0.1 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 • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5871 affects the Piwik Mobile 2 Android application version 2.0.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This issue falls under the broader category of insufficient certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the CWE database. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and backend services.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL handshakes. When the Piwik Mobile 2 application establishes secure connections to its servers, it bypasses the standard certificate validation procedures that should confirm the authenticity of the server's certificate against trusted certificate authorities. This weakness enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data transmitted through the compromised connection.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to severe security risks including data interception, session hijacking, and credential theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications between the mobile application and Piwik servers, potentially gaining access to user analytics data, login credentials, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability directly maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 category for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it creates an environment where attackers can establish unauthorized communication channels. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Piwik is an analytics platform, meaning the compromised application could provide attackers with access to detailed user behavior data and potentially sensitive business intelligence.
The security implications extend beyond simple data theft, as this vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of secure communications. Organizations relying on Piwik Mobile 2 for analytics collection face potential exposure of their user data and business insights. The vulnerability represents a failure in the application's secure coding practices and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation. Remediation efforts should include immediate implementation of certificate pinning mechanisms, proper certificate validation routines, and comprehensive security testing of all network communications. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all mobile applications maintain robust security practices in their communication protocols. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and the OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines for secure mobile application development.