CVE-2014-5893 in froyo
Summary
by MITRE
The froyo (aka com.shinsegae.mobile.froyo) application 5.1.3 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 • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-5893 represents a critical security flaw in the Shinsegae mobile application version 5.1.3 for Android platforms. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate verification within SSL/TLS implementations, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a fundamental weakness in the secure communication channel between the mobile client and backend services. This flaw specifically affects the application's ability to establish trust with legitimate servers, as it accepts any certificate presented without performing the necessary verification steps that are standard in secure communication protocols. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between users and the application's servers, making it particularly dangerous for financial and personal information handling.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the application's SSL certificate validation process where it bypasses the standard certificate chain verification procedures. This allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting a maliciously crafted certificate that appears to be from a legitimate server. The certificate validation process typically involves checking certificate signatures, expiration dates, issuer information, and domain name matching against the expected server identity. However, this application fails to perform these essential checks, effectively disabling the security mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized parties from impersonating legitimate services. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication protocols. This weakness enables attackers to intercept and potentially modify communications without detection, undermining the core security principles of secure socket layer communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for comprehensive data breaches and service disruption. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other sensitive details transmitted through the application's secure channels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for mobile banking and e-commerce applications where users expect robust security protections. Mobile users are especially at risk as they often connect to public networks where such attacks are more easily executed. The attack vector is relatively simple to execute, requiring only the ability to intercept network traffic and present a forged certificate, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which describes data compression and encryption for exfiltration, as the compromised application can be used to facilitate unauthorized data access and exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all X.509 certificates are properly validated against trusted certificate authorities, including checking certificate chains, expiration dates, and domain name matching. The application should implement certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates, which would significantly reduce the attack surface. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting systems to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and services. The fix should include updating the application to properly validate certificate chains and implement robust error handling for certificate validation failures. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection capabilities that can detect and block malicious certificate usage. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in mobile applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.