CVE-2015-2988 in Card App
Summary
by MITRE
Rakuten card App for iOS 5.2.0 through 5.2.4 does not verify SSL certificates which might allow remote attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2988 affects the Rakuten card mobile application for iOS versions 5.2.0 through 5.2.4, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's network communication security. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during secure communications, creating a significant attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's cryptographic security implementation, as it fails to perform certificate pinning or proper certificate validation checks that are essential for establishing trusted connections.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of improper certificate validation, which is categorized under CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This weakness specifically addresses the failure to validate certificates, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile application and its backend services. The vulnerability exists because the application accepts any SSL certificate without proper verification of the certificate authority, certificate expiration dates, or certificate chain integrity, effectively nullifying the security benefits that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for users of the Rakuten card application, as it enables attackers to perform successful man-in-the-middle attacks without detection. The implications extend beyond simple data interception to include potential financial fraud, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive personal and financial information. Attackers could exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious servers while maintaining the appearance of legitimate communication, making the attack particularly insidious and difficult to detect by end users. The vulnerability affects all network communications within the application, including transactions, account access, and data synchronization processes.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access and credential access phases. Adversaries could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user accounts, potentially leading to full account compromise and financial losses. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a mobile banking application, where users typically trust the security of their financial communications. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation that has been consistently identified as a critical weakness in mobile application security. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper certificate validation mechanisms, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this type of vulnerability.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive financial data. The failure to validate certificates represents a fundamental security flaw that undermines the entire cryptographic security model. Mobile application developers must ensure that all network communications properly validate certificate chains, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and maintain up-to-date security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into their applications. The remediation approach should include immediate code fixes to implement proper certificate validation, followed by comprehensive security testing to ensure that all network communications are properly secured against man-in-the-middle attacks.