CVE-2014-5976 in alibaba
Summary
by MITRE
The alibaba (aka com.alibaba.wireless) application 4.1.0.0 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-2014-5976 affects the alibaba mobile application version 4.1.0.0 for android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by transport layer security protocols. The flaw exists within the certificate verification mechanism that should normally validate the authenticity and integrity of server certificates before establishing secure connections.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper implementation of SSL certificate validation processes, specifically failing to perform certificate chain validation and trust verification against established certificate authorities. This weakness allows malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The flaw operates at the application layer where secure communication protocols should enforce certificate validation but instead accepts potentially compromised certificates without proper scrutiny. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and represents a failure in the certificate validation process that enables attackers to bypass security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft scenarios. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications between the mobile application and backend servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information including personal data, financial details, and authentication credentials. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle sensitive transactions or personal information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit user trust in legitimate applications. This weakness undermines the core security model of mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels to protect user privacy and data integrity.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and represents a critical point in the attack chain where adversaries can establish unauthorized communication channels. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 which addresses "Phishing" and T1071 which covers "Application Layer Protocol" as attackers can leverage this weakness to create convincing phishing scenarios. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper SSL/TLS configuration, and comprehensive security testing of mobile applications. The recommended remediation involves implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, implementing certificate pinning where appropriate, and conducting regular security assessments to ensure proper implementation of secure communication protocols.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend beyond the specific application, highlighting the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile application development. This flaw demonstrates the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard. Organizations must ensure that their mobile applications implement proper certificate validation, regularly update security libraries, and maintain comprehensive security testing processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into their codebases. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even well-established applications can contain critical security flaws that require immediate attention and remediation to protect user data and maintain trust in digital services.