CVE-2014-5872 in SafeNetMobile Pass
Summary
by MITRE
The SafeNetMobile Pass (aka securecomputing.devices.android.controller) application 8.3.7.11 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 SafeNetMobile Pass application version 8.3.7.11 for Android presents a critical security vulnerability through its inadequate handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw exists within the mobile security application developed by Secure Computing, which is designed to provide secure authentication and access control services. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL connections, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile device and backend servers. The issue manifests as a complete absence of certificate chain validation, allowing malicious actors to establish fraudulent secure connections without proper authentication.
This vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's cryptographic security implementation and aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The flaw enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate encrypted communications by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise as it exploits the application's trust model rather than requiring complex cryptographic attacks or system compromises. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the application, undermining its primary purpose of providing secure authentication services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass complete compromise of the application's security posture. Attackers can establish persistent communication channels with the mobile device, potentially gaining access to sensitive authentication credentials, session tokens, and other confidential data transmitted through the vulnerable application. The consequences include unauthorized access to corporate networks, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within organizational security boundaries. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where the application is used for secure remote access, authentication, and privileged access management, creating significant risk for organizations relying on the application for security-critical operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the SafeNetMobile Pass application where the certificate validation issue has been addressed, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate patterns, and establishing alternative authentication methods for critical systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper certificate validation practices as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 27001 security requirements. Security teams should also consider implementing additional network security controls including SSL inspection capabilities, certificate pinning mechanisms, and regular security assessments to identify similar validation weaknesses in other mobile applications. The incident underscores the critical need for robust cryptographic implementation practices and the dangers of insufficient certificate verification in mobile security solutions.