CVE-2014-5936 in Private Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The INCOgnito Private Browser (aka com.SL.InCoBrowser) application 1.4.0 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 • 09/07/2024
The CVE-2014-5936 vulnerability affects the INCOgnito Private Browser application version 1.4.0 for Android devices, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application. The vulnerability specifically targets the cryptographic security infrastructure that protects user data during transmission between mobile devices and web servers, undermining the fundamental security assumptions that users expect from privacy-focused browsing applications.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the application's SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate validation is either completely bypassed or inadequately implemented. This weakness allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate encrypted communications. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Mobile applications that fail to validate server certificates create an environment where attackers can establish fake secure connections, potentially capturing sensitive user data including login credentials, personal information, and financial details transmitted through the compromised application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that secure browsing applications are designed to maintain. Users of the INCOgnito Private Browser may unknowingly transmit sensitive information to attacker-controlled servers, believing they are communicating with legitimate services. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous for privacy-focused applications since users expect their communications to remain private and secure. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct session hijacking, perform credential theft, and access personal data without detection, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and persists until proper certificate validation is implemented.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper X.509 certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS stack. The application must enforce certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authorities, and ensuring proper hostname matching against the presented certificates. Security patches should implement standard certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, while also ensuring that the application maintains compatibility with legitimate certificate authorities. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in the NIST SP 800-57 cryptographic standards. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of certificate validation in mobile security and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of privacy-focused applications before deployment.