CVE-2014-5929 in emartmall
Summary
by MITRE
The emartmall (aka kr.co.emart.emartmall) application 1.3.3 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 • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5929 represents a critical security flaw in the emartmall Android application version 1.3.3, specifically targeting the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the CWE database. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a fundamental security gap that directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by presenting crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application, thereby bypassing the intended security protections that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a complete absence of certificate pinning or proper validation routines within the application's network communication stack. When the emartmall application establishes SSL connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the necessary cryptographic verification steps that would normally confirm the authenticity of server certificates. This includes checking certificate signatures against trusted Certificate Authorities, validating certificate expiration dates, and ensuring proper certificate chains. The vulnerability essentially allows any attacker with access to a certificate that can be accepted by the application to impersonate legitimate servers, creating a pathway for unauthorized data interception and potential credential theft.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of the emartmall application, particularly when they conduct sensitive transactions such as making purchases or accessing personal account information. The man-in-the-middle attack vector enables adversaries to eavesdrop on all communication between the mobile application and backend servers, potentially capturing sensitive user data including login credentials, personal information, and financial details. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may connect to public Wi-Fi networks, as these conditions make such attacks more likely to succeed. The attack surface extends beyond simple data interception to include potential session hijacking and unauthorized transaction processing.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1041, which covers Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, and T1566, which covers Phishing with Social Engineering. Organizations should consider implementing certificate pinning strategies as a mitigation approach, ensuring that applications only accept specific certificates or certificate authorities rather than trusting the entire certificate chain. Additionally, regular security audits of mobile applications should include comprehensive testing of SSL/TLS implementation to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The affected application developers should prioritize updating their certificate validation logic to properly implement X.509 certificate verification procedures, including proper certificate chain validation and revocation checking. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and similar industry standards to prevent insecure communication channels in mobile applications.