CVE-2014-5877 in TV Guide
Summary
by MITRE
The TV Guide (aka net.micene.minigroup.palimpsests.lite) application 5.4.3 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-2014-5877 affects the TV Guide application version 5.4.3 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of data transmission between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate validation mechanism within the Android application's network security implementation. When the application establishes connections to SSL servers, it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust anchor checking that should occur during the SSL handshake process. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the security measures designed to protect user data and communication integrity. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a failure in the application's adherence to established cryptographic security practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user privacy and sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt and manipulate communications between the Android application and its backend services, potentially accessing personal user data, login credentials, or other confidential information transmitted through the application. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk across the user base. This flaw particularly threatens the confidentiality and integrity of communications, as it undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by SSL/TLS encryption protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5877 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the Android application. Developers should implement robust certificate pinning techniques, ensure proper hostname verification during SSL handshakes, and validate certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities. The application must perform comprehensive certificate validation checks including signature verification, expiration date checking, and revocation status verification. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency measures and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish incident response procedures to address security breaches. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following security best practices and adhering to established frameworks such as those defined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.