CVE-2014-5922 in ga6748
Summary
by MITRE
The ga6748 (aka com.g.ga6748) application 1 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-2014-5922 affects the com.g.ga6748 Android application, specifically targeting its implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's cryptographic security architecture, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security protocols. This vulnerability directly violates industry standards and best practices for secure mobile application development, as it allows attackers to establish fraudulent secure connections without proper authentication.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes. When the Android application establishes SSL connections, it should validate certificate signatures against trusted Certificate Authorities and verify certificate properties such as expiration dates, subject names, and cryptographic strength. However, this application bypasses these essential validation steps, creating a pathway for malicious actors to present forged certificates that the application will accept as legitimate. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where SSL/TLS connections are established, making it particularly dangerous as it affects all network communications within the application scope. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation that enables man-in-the-middle attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data and system integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and modify communications between the application and backend servers, potentially accessing personal information, authentication credentials, financial data, and other confidential content. The vulnerability affects any data transmitted through the application's network connections, including login credentials, personal messages, financial transactions, and private communications. Mobile applications with this flaw become prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit user trust and access sensitive information. The attack surface extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and unauthorized access to backend services that rely on the application for secure communication.
Organizations and developers should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by ensuring proper SSL certificate validation is implemented throughout the application's network communication stack. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation, including signature verification against trusted CAs, expiration date checks, and subject name validation. Security patches should enforce certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates even if they appear valid. Additionally, developers should conduct thorough security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network communication components. The mitigation strategies should align with industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for secure mobile application development, ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections properly validate server certificates to maintain the integrity of encrypted communications.