CVE-2014-5916 in Minha Oi
Summary
by MITRE
The Minha Oi (aka br.com.mobicare.minhaoi) application 1.15.0 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 • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5916 affects the Minha Oi mobile application version 1.15.0 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network connections, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of data transmission between the mobile client and backend servers. The flaw specifically impacts the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper implementation of SSL certificate validation mechanisms. When the Minha Oi application establishes secure connections to its servers, it fails to perform proper X.509 certificate chain validation, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its servers without detection. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure cryptographic implementation, specifically related to certificate validation failures that violate fundamental security principles of secure communication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to personal information. Attackers exploiting this flaw can intercept sensitive user data including login credentials, personal identification information, financial details, and other confidential data transmitted through the application. The vulnerability affects not only individual user privacy but also undermines the overall security posture of the service, potentially leading to broader security incidents including account takeovers and data breaches. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can seamlessly impersonate legitimate servers and gain unauthorized access to the application's backend systems.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of certificate pinning and proper SSL/TLS implementation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this affects a mobile banking or financial application, where users expect robust security measures to protect their sensitive information. Organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms, proper certificate validation routines, and regular security audits to prevent such vulnerabilities from compromising user data. The remediation involves updating the application to properly validate SSL certificates against trusted certificate authorities and implementing additional security controls such as certificate transparency checks to prevent successful man-in-the-middle attacks. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the potential consequences of inadequate security measures in financial and sensitive data handling applications.