CVE-2014-5930 in Store
Summary
by MITRE
The Store and Share (aka sg.com.singnet.mystorage.android) application 2.0.18 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-2014-5930 affects the Store and Share Android application version 2.0.18, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate verification, which directly compromises the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to establish fraudulent connections.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification during SSL/TLS handshakes. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it accepts any certificate presented without validating the certificate authority, expiration dates, or domain name matches. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a failure in implementing proper SSL/TLS security controls. The flaw enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile application and its backend services. Sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and potentially confidential business information could be exposed to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of data transmission, undermining the fundamental security assurances that users expect from secure mobile applications. Mobile users are particularly vulnerable since they often connect to untrusted networks where such attacks are more likely to occur.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform complete certificate chain validation, including verification of certificate authorities, expiration dates, and domain name matching. Security measures should include implementing certificate pinning for critical endpoints, enforcing strict certificate validation policies, and regularly updating the application to address known security flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls such as SSL inspection and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. The incident underscores the necessity for comprehensive security testing including certificate validation checks during the application development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being deployed in production environments.