CVE-2014-5977 in Mobile Face
Summary
by MITRE
The Mobile Face (aka com.wFacemobile) application 0.74.13432.91159 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-2014-5977 affects the Mobile Face application version 0.74.13432.91159 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's cryptographic security implementation, where the mobile client neglects to perform essential certificate verification procedures that are fundamental to establishing secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's SSL/TLS implementation where it bypasses the standard certificate validation process that should occur during secure connection establishment. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of proper certificate chain validation means the application accepts certificates regardless of their authenticity or trustworthiness, effectively rendering the SSL/TLS security mechanism useless. This flaw directly violates established security protocols and standards, as the application fails to implement basic certificate pinning or validation checks that are essential for maintaining secure communications in mobile environments. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, making it a well-documented weakness in cryptographic implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to intercept and manipulate sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers. Users of the Mobile Face application become vulnerable to various attack vectors including credential theft, data exfiltration, and session hijacking, particularly when the application handles personal information, authentication tokens, or financial data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users connect to untrusted networks, as attackers can easily establish malicious connections and capture sensitive communications without detection. This weakness can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, exposure of private information, and potential financial losses. The attack surface extends beyond simple data interception to include more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting and privilege escalation, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for applications handling sensitive user data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5977 should prioritize immediate remediation through application updates that implement proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. Security professionals should ensure that the application enforces certificate chain validation, implements certificate pinning where appropriate, and validates certificate expiration dates and issuer information. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and establish secure communication protocols that prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify all SSL/TLS implementation points and ensure proper certificate validation is enforced throughout the application. Additionally, security teams should implement continuous monitoring and testing procedures to validate that certificate validation mechanisms function correctly and that no regressions occur in future updates. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers data compression and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering, emphasizing the need for robust certificate validation to prevent these attack vectors.