CVE-2014-5980 in Genertel
Summary
by MITRE
The Genertel (aka com.genertel) application 2.6.0 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-2014-5980 resides within the Genertel Android application version 2.6.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue fundamentally undermines the integrity of SSL/TLS connections by failing to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by remote servers. The application's insecure certificate verification process creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between the mobile device and backend services. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to establish trust relationships with SSL servers, which is essential for maintaining secure communications in mobile environments where sensitive data exchanges are commonplace.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the Genertel application establishes connections to remote servers using SSL/TLS protocols, it fails to perform the necessary cryptographic verification steps that should confirm the authenticity of server certificates. This includes checking certificate signatures, validating certificate authorities, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring proper hostname matching. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which describes improper certificate validation, and represents a classic example of trust management failure in mobile applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear to be from legitimate servers, thereby bypassing the application's security controls entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can result in comprehensive data breaches and system compromise. Mobile applications that rely on the Genertel framework for communication with backend services become vulnerable to attacks where adversaries can decrypt and modify sensitive information in transit. This includes user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential exchanges that should remain protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may connect to unsecured networks, making the attack surface even more expansive. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a T1046 technique for network service scanning combined with T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers can leverage the compromised application to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5980 are severe and multifaceted, as the vulnerability affects not only the immediate application but potentially the entire ecosystem of services that depend on secure communication with the mobile client. Organizations using this application for business-critical operations face significant risks including regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage from data breaches. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in mobile application development practices, where certificate validation is often treated as an optional security feature rather than a fundamental requirement. Remediation efforts should include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring all SSL/TLS connections perform rigorous certificate validation, and establishing comprehensive security testing procedures for mobile applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development and the need for regular security assessments of mobile platforms to identify and remediate similar trust management failures.