CVE-2015-5666 in ANA App
Summary
by MITRE
ANA App for Android 3.1.1 and earlier, and ANA App for iOS 3.3.6 and earlier does not verify SSL certificates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5666 affects the ANA mobile applications for both android and ios platforms, specifically versions 3.1.1 and earlier for android and 3.3.6 and earlier for ios. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the applications' network communication protocols where the mobile applications fail to properly validate ssl certificates during secure communication with backend servers. The absence of proper certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that exposes users to potential man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception threats. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive user data transmitted between the mobile application and the server infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from improper implementation of ssl certificate validation mechanisms within the mobile applications. When applications fail to verify ssl certificates, they essentially trust any certificate presented by a server regardless of its authenticity or validity. This weakness allows attackers to perform ssl stripping attacks or present fraudulent certificates that the application would accept without proper validation. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic implementations and improper certificate validation practices that are commonly classified under cwe-295 - improper certificate validation. The mobile applications essentially bypass the fundamental security mechanisms that should ensure secure communication channels between client and server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Users of the affected ANA applications face significant risks including unauthorized access to their personal travel information, booking details, and potentially financial data. Attackers could intercept sensitive communications to and from the applications, potentially leading to identity theft, fraudulent bookings, or data breaches. The vulnerability also undermines the trust users place in the application's security measures, potentially leading to reputational damage for the organization. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under attack-1125 - man-in-the-middle attack, where the attacker can intercept and modify communications without detection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for mobile applications handling sensitive personal data, as mobile devices are often less secure than traditional computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper ssl certificate validation mechanisms within the mobile applications. Organizations should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that applications only accept specific certificates or certificate authorities, thereby preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates. The applications must be updated to perform thorough certificate validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate chains, and ensuring proper hostname validation. Security patches should be deployed immediately to all affected versions, and users should be notified to update their applications as soon as possible. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring systems to detect potential certificate validation failures and establish proper incident response procedures for handling security breaches. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of mobile applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application ecosystem. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing robust cryptographic security measures in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data, and aligns with security best practices outlined in industry standards such as owasp mobile security project recommendations for secure mobile application development.