CVE-2014-5874 in SplashID
Summary
by MITRE
The SplashID (aka com.splashidandroid) application 7.2.2 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-2014-5874 affects the SplashID Android application version 7.2.2, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness represents a critical failure in the application's security architecture where proper certificate validation mechanisms are completely absent. The application fails to perform essential X.509 certificate verification processes that are fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications over networks. This flaw exists within the application's SSL/TLS implementation and creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate chain validation and trust verification within the application's secure communication layer. When the SplashID application establishes connections to remote servers, it does not validate the server certificates against trusted certificate authorities or perform necessary cryptographic checks that would normally occur during SSL/TLS handshakes. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which describes "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, where applications fail to properly validate digital certificates used to establish secure connections. The absence of certificate verification means that any malicious actor can create a fraudulent certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, effectively bypassing the entire security framework designed to protect against unauthorized access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for users of the SplashID application, particularly those who store sensitive personal information, financial data, or authentication credentials within the application. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows attackers to intercept communications between the application and its servers, potentially gaining access to stored passwords, personal identification information, and other confidential data. This represents a direct violation of the security principles of confidentiality and integrity, as described in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, where attackers can modify or steal data without detection. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core functionality of a password management application, potentially compromising the security of all accounts and credentials stored within the application.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include potential account takeover scenarios, identity theft, and broader compromise of user digital identities. According to ATT&CK framework category T1566, this vulnerability enables initial access through credential access techniques, while T1046 covers the network service discovery that would be necessary for attackers to exploit this weakness. The lack of certificate validation makes the application particularly susceptible to attacks in public Wi-Fi environments or compromised network infrastructures where attackers can easily intercept and modify SSL traffic. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability as a critical security risk that requires immediate remediation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that users expect from password management applications.
Effective mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate application updates that implement proper certificate validation procedures, including certificate chain building, trust verification against established certificate authorities, and proper cryptographic validation of server certificates. System administrators should also consider network-level protections such as SSL/TLS inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust security practices in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper cryptographic implementation in all security-sensitive applications. Regular security audits and code reviews specifically focused on cryptographic implementations should be conducted to prevent similar issues in future versions of the application.