CVE-2015-2981 in Yodobashi App
Summary
by MITRE
The Yodobashi App for Android 1.2.1.0 and earlier 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 • 12/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-2981 represents a critical security flaw in the Yodobashi App for Android versions 1.2.1.0 and earlier. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by secure communications protocols. The flaw exists at the certificate verification layer where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic validation steps that ensure the authenticity and integrity of the communication endpoint.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application establishes secure connections to backend servers, failing to perform certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or cryptographic signature validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by deploying malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms designed to protect sensitive data transmission between mobile clients and servers. The absence of proper certificate verification creates an environment where attackers can intercept and manipulate communications without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly given the nature of e-commerce applications that handle sensitive user data including personal information, payment details, and authentication credentials. Man-in-the-middle attacks enabled by this flaw allow adversaries to transparently monitor, modify, or redirect communications between the mobile application and its servers. This compromises user privacy and data integrity, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure sessions and protect against various attack vectors including session hijacking and data exfiltration.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and T1566, which addresses "Phishing for Information" through compromised secure communications. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer security validation, making it difficult for users to detect unauthorized interception. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory certificate pinning, proper certificate validation routines, and regular security audits of mobile applications. The recommended approach involves updating the application to enforce strict certificate validation, implementing certificate transparency checks, and ensuring all SSL/TLS connections perform proper hostname verification and cryptographic signature validation before establishing secure communication channels.