CVE-2014-5990 in cookbible
Summary
by MITRE
The cookbible (aka net.bookjam.cookbible) application 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-2014-5990 affects the cookbible Android application version 1.0.0, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's certificate validation mechanism, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by SSL/TLS encryption. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a pathway for malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. This vulnerability directly violates industry security standards and best practices for mobile application development, as it eliminates the cryptographic verification process that ensures server authenticity and data integrity. The absence of certificate pinning or proper validation routines leaves the application susceptible to attacks where adversaries can present fraudulent certificates to establish fake secure connections with users.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's incomplete or absent SSL certificate verification logic within its network communication stack. When the cookbible application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the essential X.509 certificate validation steps that include checking certificate authorities, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring certificate chain integrity. This omission creates a dangerous trust model where any certificate presented by a server is accepted without scrutiny, regardless of its legitimacy or authenticity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting network traffic and presenting malicious certificates that appear to be from legitimate servers, thereby deceiving the application into establishing what it believes to be a secure connection while actually communicating with the attacker's system. The vulnerability manifests as a complete breakdown in the certificate validation process, which is a core component of the Transport Layer Security protocol suite.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, potentially enabling comprehensive information theft and system compromise. An attacker capable of executing a man-in-the-middle attack through this flaw could access sensitive user data including personal information, login credentials, and any other data transmitted through the application's secure channels. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of all communications between the mobile application and its backend services, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling personal or financial data. Mobile security frameworks and industry standards such as those defined by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) explicitly recommend robust certificate validation as a fundamental security control for mobile applications. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable application version is installed on user devices, potentially allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms. Application developers must implement robust certificate verification processes that include checking certificate authorities against trusted root certificates, validating certificate expiration dates, and performing certificate chain validation. The implementation should follow established security guidelines such as those outlined in the Android Security Best Practices documentation and align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate pinning techniques to further strengthen the security posture of their mobile applications. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar validation flaws in other network communication components. Additionally, users should be encouraged to keep their applications updated to versions that address this vulnerability, while security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential man-in-the-middle attacks targeting this specific weakness.