CVE-2014-5969 in healthylifestyle
Summary
by MITRE
The healthylifestyle (aka com.alek.healthylifestyle) application 1.2.2 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.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5969 resides within the healthylifestyle application version 1.2.2 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness manifests in the application's complete absence of X.509 certificate verification during SSL/TLS connections, creating a fundamental breach in the security architecture that protects user data transmission. The flaw directly violates established security practices for mobile application development and network communication security.
The technical implementation error stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL certificates against trusted certificate authorities, allowing any malicious actor to present a crafted certificate that would be accepted as legitimate by the application. This vulnerability specifically affects the SSL/TLS handshake process where the application should verify certificate chains, validate certificate signatures, and ensure certificate expiration dates are within acceptable ranges. The absence of these verification steps creates an attack surface where man-in-the-middle adversaries can intercept and manipulate encrypted communications between the mobile application and backend servers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risk of data interception and theft, particularly when the application handles sensitive health information or personal data. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to private health records. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt communications, modify data in transit, or redirect users to malicious endpoints while maintaining the illusion of secure communication. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and persists until the underlying implementation is corrected.
The security implications of this flaw align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of the principle of secure coding practices for mobile applications. This vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel," as attackers can leverage the compromised communication channel to extract sensitive information. Mitigation strategies include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforcing certificate chain validation, and deploying robust SSL/TLS configuration practices. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and ensure that all mobile applications undergo thorough security testing for certificate validation weaknesses. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure communication implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from inadequate cryptographic security measures in health-related applications where data sensitivity is paramount.