CVE-2014-5959 in tx Smart
Summary
by MITRE
The tx Smart (aka com.wooriwm.txsmart) application 7.05 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 • 09/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5959 affects the tx Smart mobile banking application version 7.05 for android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanisms. This issue falls under the broader category of weak cryptographic practices and certificate validation failures that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user data and financial transactions.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation during SSL/TLS connections. When establishing secure communications with backend servers, the application accepts any certificate presented without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities. This weakness stems from improper implementation of certificate validation routines that should normally check certificate signatures, expiration dates, and trust relationships with recognized certification authorities. The vulnerability directly violates established security protocols and represents a failure in the application's secure communication implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly within the financial services sector where the application is designed for banking transactions. Man-in-the-middle attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting forged certificates to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between users and banking servers. This includes but is not limited to account credentials, transaction details, personal identification information, and financial data that could be used for fraudulent activities. The vulnerability essentially nullifies the security benefits of SSL/TLS encryption, making it possible for attackers to conduct eavesdropping and data manipulation attacks without detection.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and attack patterns, particularly those documented in the attack tactics and techniques framework. The flaw corresponds to attack techniques categorized under credential access and defense evasion, as it enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and maintain persistent access to sensitive systems. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-295 which describes "Improper Certificate Validation" and represents a failure in proper cryptographic implementation. The weakness also relates to CWE-310 which covers "Cryptographic Issues" and demonstrates how inadequate security controls can create exploitable conditions in mobile applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, check certificate expiration dates, and validate certificate signatures. Security patches should enforce certificate pinning where appropriate, ensuring that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted for communication. Organizations should also implement comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications. Additionally, user education about security best practices and regular security updates should be emphasized to maintain defense in depth. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile application development and the necessity of following established security standards such as those defined by NIST and OWASP for cryptographic implementation in mobile environments.