CVE-2014-5999 in autonavi
Summary
by MITRE
The autonavi (aka com.telenav.doudouyou.android.autonavi) application 4.6.1 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-2014-5999 resides within the autonavi mobile application version 4.6.1 for android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanisms. This issue fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers constitutes a severe deviation from established security protocols, as it eliminates the cryptographic verification that ensures server authenticity and data confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate chain validation within the application's SSL implementation. When the autonavi application establishes secure connections to backend services, it fails to perform the essential steps required to verify certificate legitimacy including checking certificate authorities, validating certificate expiration dates, and ensuring proper certificate signatures. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation. The absence of certificate verification creates a scenario where attackers can successfully perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application will accept without question.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, encompassing comprehensive system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities for adversaries. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and establish fraudulent communication channels, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information, location data, and personal identifiers that the application processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users often connect to public networks, making the attack surface even more expansive. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1046, this vulnerability enables adversaries to establish persistent access points and conduct reconnaissance activities that would otherwise be blocked by proper certificate validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5999 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL stack. Security professionals should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only pre-approved certificates are accepted, thereby preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates even if they can intercept communications. The application must be updated to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation including verification of certificate authorities, expiration dates, and proper cryptographic signatures. Additionally, network-level security measures such as SSL inspection and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized certificate usage. Organizations should also consider implementing automated certificate monitoring solutions to identify potential certificate compromise events and ensure ongoing compliance with security standards. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder that even minor security oversights can create significant risks in enterprise and consumer environments.