CVE-2014-5968 in iGolf - Golf GPS
Summary
by MITRE
The iGolf - Golf GPS (aka com.igolf) application 20 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-2014-5968 affects the iGolf - Golf GPS Android application version 20, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure connections with backend servers, undermining the fundamental security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate validation process within the application's network communication stack, specifically in how it handles SSL/TLS connections. When the iGolf application establishes secure connections to its servers, it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or signature validation checks that are standard requirements for secure SSL communication. This absence of certificate verification allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate all data transmitted between the mobile device and the application's servers. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security implementation level, making it particularly dangerous as it affects all network communications within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user accounts, personal information, and sensitive golf-related data. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture login credentials, personal details, location data, and potentially financial information if the application processes payments or user subscriptions. The vulnerability affects users who rely on the application for their golfing activities, potentially exposing their personal information, favorite courses, and travel patterns to unauthorized parties. Given that the application operates on mobile devices, the attack surface is further expanded by potential network interception points including public Wi-Fi networks, cellular data interception, and compromised network infrastructure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks. The lack of certificate verification represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and demonstrates poor implementation of SSL/TLS security controls. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper certificate validation routines, and network security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of mobile application security testing and adherence to security best practices for SSL/TLS implementation in mobile environments. Users should be advised to avoid using the affected application until a security patch is released, and network administrators should monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.