CVE-2014-5885 in Disaster Alert
Summary
by MITRE
The Disaster Alert (aka disasterAlert.PDC) application 3.2 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 • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5885 affects the disasterAlert.PDC application version 3.2 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security model designed to protect sensitive information exchanges.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate verification mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the disasterAlert.PDC application attempts to establish secure connections with servers, it fails to perform the essential X.509 certificate validation steps that should confirm the server's identity and ensure the authenticity of the encryption keys presented. This omission allows attackers to intercept communications and present fraudulent certificates that the application will accept without proper scrutiny. The vulnerability essentially removes the cryptographic authentication layer that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, leaving users exposed to various forms of man-in-the-middle attacks. According to CWE-295, this represents a failure to validate certificates, specifically categorized under "Improper Certificate Validation" where the software does not properly validate the authenticity of certificates used in secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can compromise user privacy and system security. An attacker positioned between the user and the server can successfully impersonate legitimate services by presenting a crafted certificate that appears valid to the vulnerable application. This allows for the theft of sensitive information including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially confidential emergency alerts that the application is designed to deliver. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for an application focused on disaster alerts, as it could enable attackers to manipulate critical emergency communications or steal sensitive information during emergency situations when users are most reliant on accurate information delivery.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves the use of man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept and manipulate network traffic. Adversaries can exploit this weakness by positioning themselves in the network path between the Android device and target servers, presenting forged certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. The consequences include potential data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, and the ability to inject malicious content into the application's communication channels. This vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices, as the application does not implement proper security controls that should be standard in any mobile application handling sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5885 require immediate attention from both application developers and end-users. Application developers must implement proper certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and check certificate expiration dates and revocation status. The solution involves incorporating robust SSL/TLS certificate validation libraries and ensuring that all certificate verification steps are performed before establishing secure connections. Users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are available and to consider alternative emergency alert services that properly implement secure communication protocols. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish procedures for rapidly deploying security updates to mobile applications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development and the necessity of implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent certificate forgery attacks.