CVE-2014-6714 in WebMD
Summary
by MITRE
The WebMD (aka com.webmd.android) application 3.5 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-2014-6714 affects the WebMD Android application version 3.5, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification processes within the mobile application's network communication stack, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that secure communication protocols are designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate pinning or validation checks within the application's secure communication implementation. When the WebMD application establishes connections to remote servers over HTTPS, it fails to validate the server certificates against trusted certificate authorities or implement proper certificate chain validation. This allows attackers to present maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and backend servers. The vulnerability directly violates established security principles for secure communication and represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to various attack vectors including data interception, credential theft, and session hijacking. Mobile users who interact with the WebMD application may unknowingly transmit sensitive personal health information, login credentials, or other confidential data to attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected application version and persists regardless of the device's security configuration or the user's awareness of the risk. This weakness particularly impacts healthcare applications where the confidentiality and integrity of patient data are paramount, creating potential regulatory compliance violations under healthcare data protection regulations.
Organizations and developers should implement comprehensive mitigations including proper certificate validation, certificate pinning mechanisms, and regular security audits of mobile applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks. Remediation requires implementing robust SSL certificate validation, establishing certificate pinning for critical communications, and conducting thorough security testing of all network communication components. Additionally, application developers should adopt secure coding practices that enforce proper cryptographic implementation and regularly update security controls to address emerging threats in mobile application security.