CVE-2014-6868 in DS audio
Summary
by MITRE
The DS audio (aka com.synology.DSaudio) application 3.4 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 • 09/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6868 affects the DS audio application version 3.4 for Android devices, specifically targeting the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by SSL/TLS protocols. The issue manifests when the application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between the client and server components.
The technical flaw stems from the application's improper implementation of certificate validation routines within its SSL/TLS stack. When establishing secure connections to Synology servers, the DS audio application should perform rigorous verification of certificate authenticity through chain of trust validation, expiration date checks, and subject name matching against expected server identities. However, the vulnerable implementation bypasses these essential verification steps, allowing any certificate to be accepted regardless of its legitimacy or authorization status. This weakness directly corresponds to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols and aligns with the broader category of cryptographic failures in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risks for users of the Synology DS audio application, particularly in environments where sensitive data transmission occurs. Attackers capable of performing man-in-the-middle attacks can exploit this weakness by presenting forged certificates to unsuspecting users, effectively impersonating legitimate Synology servers. This allows adversaries to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and Synology storage devices, including authentication credentials, media files, and configuration data. The vulnerability particularly affects scenarios where users connect to Synology servers over untrusted networks such as public wifi hotspots or cellular data connections, where such attacks are more commonly executed.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated attack patterns that align with MITRE ATT&CK framework techniques for credential access and defense evasion. The man-in-the-middle capabilities allow attackers to establish persistent surveillance of communication channels, potentially capturing authentication tokens or session data that could be used for unauthorized access to Synology storage systems. The attack surface extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential privilege escalation if authentication credentials are successfully intercepted and reused against other systems within the same network infrastructure. Organizations using Synology products in enterprise environments face heightened risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their networked storage solutions.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate application updates from Synology to implement proper certificate validation procedures, including certificate pinning mechanisms and robust chain of trust verification. Mobile device administrators should enforce security policies that prevent installation of outdated applications and implement network monitoring to detect suspicious certificate usage patterns. Users should be educated about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks and encouraged to verify server identities through alternative means when possible. The fix should incorporate industry-standard certificate validation libraries and ensure compliance with RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate processing, addressing the core weakness that allows certificate forgery to succeed without proper verification. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency measures and regular security audits of mobile application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.