CVE-2014-6739 in Well-Being Connect Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Well-Being Connect Mobile (aka com.healthways.wellbeinggo) application 2.9 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-2014-6739 resides within the Well-Being Connect Mobile application version 2.9 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security assurances that users expect when transmitting sensitive health data through mobile applications. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks without detection. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur during SSL handshakes, where applications typically validate the authenticity of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities.
From a technical perspective, this flaw constitutes a failure in the application's secure communication implementation, where the mobile application bypasses the standard certificate chain validation procedures that are fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications. The absence of proper certificate verification means that attackers can present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and backend servers. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses the improper certificate validation in security protocols, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 where adversaries exploit weak certificate validation to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that data transmitted over SSL/TLS connections remains secure and authentic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, particularly given the sensitive nature of health information typically processed by Well-Being Connect applications. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to personal health records, medical histories, treatment information, and other confidential data that users trust to remain private. The implications are especially severe for healthcare applications where such data breaches could lead to identity theft, insurance fraud, or other forms of exploitation. The vulnerability affects all users of the application who transmit data over networks where man-in-the-middle attacks are possible, making it a widespread concern that impacts the privacy and security of healthcare data management on mobile platforms. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to adversaries with basic networking knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections validate certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implement certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent certificate substitution attacks. The application should enforce strict certificate validation policies that align with industry standards such as those defined in RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate validation and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. Additionally, security updates should include mechanisms to detect and reject self-signed certificates or certificates from untrusted authorities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls such as SSL inspection with proper certificate validation policies to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability in enterprise environments. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of certificate validation mechanisms to ensure that the application properly rejects invalid certificates while maintaining legitimate communication with trusted servers, thereby restoring the cryptographic security assurances that users expect from mobile health applications.