CVE-2014-5992 in successsecrets
Summary
by MITRE
The successsecrets (aka com.alek.successsecrets) application 1.2.3 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 • 09/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5992 affects the successsecrets Android application version 1.2.3, specifically targeting its implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's cryptographic security posture, as it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of proper certificate verification creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's trust model and establish fraudulent connections with users.
This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate verification in secure communications. The application's failure to validate SSL certificates exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can present forged certificates to establish fake secure connections. The flaw occurs at the transport layer security validation point, where the application should be implementing certificate pinning or proper certificate chain validation but instead accepts any certificate presented by the server. This weakness undermines the fundamental security guarantees provided by SSL/TLS protocols, particularly the authentication and encryption properties that protect sensitive data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to intercept and manipulate communications between the Android application and remote servers. An attacker positioned between the user and the server can present a malicious certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to eavesdrop on sensitive information exchanges, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent services. This vulnerability affects any data transmitted through the application's network connections, including personal information, authentication credentials, and potentially financial data depending on the application's functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application, such as certificate pinning or strict certificate chain validation. Security measures should enforce certificate verification against trusted certificate authorities and implement certificate transparency checks. The application should be updated to validate certificate signatures, expiration dates, and subject names against established trust anchors. Additionally, network security monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous certificate behavior and unauthorized certificate installations. Organizations should follow security best practices outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and implement secure coding guidelines that address SSL/TLS implementation weaknesses.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through certificate manipulation, potentially enabling long-term surveillance of user activities and data collection. Remediation requires immediate application updates and may necessitate certificate revocation for affected systems. Security teams should also implement network-level controls such as SSL inspection and certificate monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic implementation review and the necessity of adhering to established security frameworks for mobile application development.