CVE-2014-6717 in iTriage Health
Summary
by MITRE
The iTriage Health (aka com.healthagen.iTriage) application 5.29 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 described in CVE-2014-6717 represents a critical security flaw in the iTriage Health Android application version 5.29, specifically related to its handling of secure communications. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation, where the application fails to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure connections. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that iTriage Health is a healthcare application that likely handles sensitive patient data, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to intercept or manipulate medical information.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a server using SSL/TLS, it should validate the server's certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the connection is genuinely secure. The iTriage application, however, bypasses this crucial step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This flaw directly violates the fundamental security principle of certificate chain validation and can be classified under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation." The vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can establish fake secure connections and potentially intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and backend servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications rely upon. Healthcare applications like iTriage Health process highly sensitive information including patient medical records, personal health data, and potentially protected health information subject to HIPAA regulations. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to confidential patient data, potentially leading to identity theft, medical fraud, or other malicious activities. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques - an attacker merely needs to position themselves between the mobile device and the server to present a crafted certificate. This vulnerability also exposes the application to potential data manipulation attacks where attackers could alter medical information in transit, potentially leading to serious consequences for patient care and safety.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques, particularly those related to credential access and initial access. The lack of certificate verification creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive healthcare data through network-based attacks. Organizations using this application should immediately implement mitigations including updating to a version that properly validates SSL certificates, implementing additional network security controls such as certificate pinning, and conducting thorough security assessments of their mobile application infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices and adherence to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes the critical need for proper certificate validation in mobile applications. Given the healthcare context and the sensitive nature of the data involved, this vulnerability represents a significant compliance risk and could result in regulatory penalties under healthcare privacy regulations.