CVE-2014-5978 in memetan
Summary
by MITRE
The memetan (aka memetan.android.com.activity) application 1.1.0 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-2014-5978 affects the memetan android application version 1.1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation within SSL/TLS implementations, creating a significant risk for users who rely on the application for sensitive data transmission. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during the secure communication establishment process, effectively undermining the fundamental security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide. This vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 where adversaries exploit weak certificate validation to establish man-in-the-middle positions.
The technical implementation flaw within the memetan application demonstrates a complete failure in certificate chain validation, where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps. This includes not checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authorities, or ensuring proper certificate signatures. When an attacker successfully positions themselves between the user and the legitimate server, they can present a forged certificate that the application will accept as legitimate. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary certificate spoofing since the application does not implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that would normally detect such malicious certificate presentation. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to intercept and potentially modify all communications between the mobile application and backend servers, making it particularly dangerous for applications that handle sensitive user data or financial transactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user privacy and data integrity. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain access to user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other sensitive content that the application transmits over SSL connections. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, regardless of their device security configurations, as the flaw resides within the application's core security implementation rather than in the underlying operating system. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile applications that handle sensitive user data, as the attack surface is broad and the attack vectors are relatively simple to execute. The lack of certificate verification creates a persistent risk that remains active as long as users continue to employ the vulnerable application version, potentially allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to user communications and data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5978 should prioritize immediate application updates from the vendor to address the certificate validation flaw. Organizations and users should implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible, ensuring that applications only accept certificates from specific trusted authorities or with specific public keys. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual certificate behavior or potential man-in-the-middle activity. Additionally, the application should be updated to implement proper X.509 certificate validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authority signatures, and ensuring proper certificate chain validation. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection with proper certificate validation to detect and block malicious certificate usage. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for mobile application development, including proper implementation of secure communication protocols and adherence to industry standards such as those recommended by NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and validation.