CVE-2014-6713 in MedQuiz: Medical Chat
Summary
by MITRE
The MedQuiz: Medical Chat and MCQs (aka com.pdevsmedd.med) application 1.5 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 • 09/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6713 affects the MedQuiz: Medical Chat and MCQs Android application version 1.5, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The implementation represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it blindly accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the essential verification steps that ensure certificate authenticity and trustworthiness. This flaw directly violates established security protocols and best practices for secure mobile application development.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the scope of CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through man-in-the-middle attacks. The application's lack of certificate pinning or proper validation creates an exploitable condition where attackers can establish a man-in-the-middle position between the mobile client and legitimate servers. When a malicious actor successfully intercepts communications, they can present a forged certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to decrypt and access sensitive medical information transmitted through the application's communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as the MedQuiz application handles medical chat communications and multiple-choice question data that likely contains sensitive patient information and medical knowledge. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially access confidential medical discussions, patient records, or educational content that would otherwise remain protected. The vulnerability undermines the trust model essential for healthcare applications, where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount. Given that this application targets medical professionals and students, the potential for compromising patient privacy and medical research data creates significant regulatory and compliance implications under healthcare data protection laws such as HIPAA.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing certificate pinning techniques that validate server certificates against a known set of trusted certificates or certificate authorities. Additionally, the application should incorporate proper certificate chain validation procedures that verify certificate signatures, expiration dates, and revocation status. Security updates should enforce strict certificate validation before establishing any SSL connections, and the application should implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications handling sensitive data.