CVE-2014-5943 in Antivirus beta
Summary
by MITRE
The LabMSF Antivirus beta (aka com.ReSync.RNGN) 1.0.2 application Beta 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-2014-5943 affects the LabMSF Antivirus beta application version 1.0.2 for Android devices, specifically targeting the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the mobile application's cryptographic implementation that directly undermines the integrity of secure communications between the device and remote servers. The vulnerability exists within the application's certificate verification process, where it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure connections.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification. When establishing secure connections, the LabMSF Antivirus beta application does not validate the certificate authority signatures, expiration dates, or hostname matching required for legitimate SSL certificates. This absence of certificate verification creates a pathway for malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to distinguish between authentic and malicious certificates, effectively disabling the security mechanisms designed to protect against such attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including data interception, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept communications between the infected device and legitimate servers, potentially capturing login credentials, personal data, or other confidential information transmitted over the network. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, where attackers can impersonate legitimate services and maintain persistent access to user accounts. This weakness fundamentally undermines the security posture of any user running this vulnerable application, particularly in environments where sensitive data is transmitted or processed.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of inadequate SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this weakness maps to T1566.001 - "Phishing via Service Provider", where the compromised application can be used as a vector for delivering malicious payloads or intercepting user credentials. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including removing the vulnerable application from affected devices, implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks, and ensuring all mobile applications undergo proper security testing including certificate validation checks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following mobile security best practices and adhering to standards such as NIST SP 800-53 for secure mobile application development to prevent similar issues in future implementations.