CVE-2014-5945 in Edline Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Edline Mobile (aka com.wEdlineFree) application 0.63.13369.34294 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-2014-5945 affects the Edline Mobile application version 0.63.13369.34294 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue resides in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism, where the mobile application fails to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure connections. The flaw fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, creating a dangerous attack surface for malicious actors who can exploit this weakness to compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of certificate verification processes within its secure communication stack. When the Edline Mobile application establishes SSL connections to backend servers, it does not perform the necessary validation steps required to confirm certificate authenticity and trustworthiness. This omission allows attackers to present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate communications between users and the application's servers. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the absence of certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking that are standard requirements for secure SSL/TLS implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for users of the Edline Mobile application, particularly in environments where sensitive educational data is transmitted. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, potentially accessing student information, grades, attendance records, and other confidential educational data. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the compromised application could serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and lateral movement within educational networks. The vulnerability affects all users who rely on the application for accessing educational services, making it a widespread concern for educational institutions and their students.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5945 align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and represents a clear violation of the fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing" through the exploitation of unverified SSL certificates to deceive users into trusting malicious connections. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in the application's secure coding practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms as mandated by industry standards including the NIST SP 800-52 revision 2 guidelines for certificate management. Organizations should immediately implement certificate pinning strategies, update to patched versions of the application, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of their mobile applications to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.
The remediation of this vulnerability requires immediate application of certificate validation fixes, including implementation of proper certificate chain verification, hostname checking, and trust anchor validation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of secure communication implementation in mobile applications and the potential consequences of neglecting proper SSL/TLS certificate validation processes.