CVE-2014-5947 in psicofxp
Summary
by MITRE
The psicofxp (aka com.tapatalk.psicofxpcom) application 2.4.12.15 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-2014-5947 resides within the psicofxp Android application version 2.4.12.15, specifically targeting the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's approach to establishing trust with remote servers, as it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshakes. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and backend services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. When an application fails to verify X.509 certificates, it essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that the communicating party is who they claim to be. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The application accepts these forged certificates without proper validation, enabling attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. Mobile applications that rely on SSL/TLS for secure communications become vulnerable to various attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to user credentials, personal information, or business-sensitive data that would normally be protected by secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and persists until the underlying certificate validation mechanism is properly implemented.
From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting. The lack of certificate validation creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within the application ecosystem. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforcing strict certificate validation procedures, and regularly updating the application to ensure cryptographic best practices are followed. Security professionals should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined by NIST SP 800-57 and RFC 5280 for certificate validation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder that secure communication protocols must be rigorously tested and validated to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.