CVE-2014-5939 in travelzadcomvb
Summary
by MITRE
The travelzadcomvb (aka com.tapatalk.travelzadcomvb) application 3.3.10 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-2014-5939 affects the travelzadcomvb Android application version 3.3.10, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's approach to establishing trust with remote servers, as the software fails to properly validate the authenticity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by servers during encrypted communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors positioned within the network traffic path between the mobile device and the server infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure mobile applications. When an Android application establishes SSL connections, it should verify the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the legitimacy of the server. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate validation, which directly relates to CWE-295 - Improper Certificate Validation and CWE-310 - Cryptographic Issues. The application's inability to perform this crucial verification step leaves users exposed to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can present fraudulent certificates to establish fake secure connections with the mobile application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attacks that can compromise user privacy and sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to confidential data transmitted between the mobile application and backend services. This includes but is not limited to user credentials, personal information, financial data, and any other sensitive content that the application may handle during its normal operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may connect to unsecured public networks, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 - Exfiltration Over C2 Channel and T1566 - Phishing for Information, as the compromised application becomes a vector for data theft and user deception.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that the application only accepts certificates from specific trusted authorities or specific certificate fingerprints. The application must validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates and implement proper hostname verification to prevent certificate spoofing attacks. Additionally, security measures should include regular security audits of cryptographic implementations, adherence to mobile security best practices, and compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications, as highlighted by the OWASP Mobile Top 10 and the Android Security Best Practices guidelines that emphasize the necessity of robust certificate validation mechanisms to protect user data and maintain application integrity.