KardiaMobile: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
CVE-2022-41627 is a high-severity cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in KardiaMobile from AliveCor, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected KardiaMobile versions: All. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of KardiaMobile you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AliveCor | KardiaMobile | All | Not stated |
| Alivecor | Kardiamobile Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Alivecor | Kardiamobile 6l Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Alivecor | Kardiamobile Card Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.8 | Medium | CNA (hq.dhs.gov) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | NVD |
Official description
The physical IoT device of the AliveCor's KardiaMobile, a smartphone-based personal electrocardiogram (EKG) has no encryption for its data-over-sound protocols. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read patient EKG results or create a denial-of-service condition by emitting sounds at similar frequencies as the device, disrupting the smartphone microphone’s ability to accurately read the data. To carry out this attack, the attacker must be close (less than 5 feet) to pick up and emit sound waves.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Before transmitting, encrypt the data using reliable, confidentiality-protecting cryptographic protocols.
- When using web applications with SSL, use SSL for the entire session from login to logout, not just for the initial login page.
- When designing hardware platforms, ensure that approved encryption algorithms (such as those recommended by NIST) protect paths from security critical data to trusted user applications.
More Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities (CWE-319)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsma-22-298-01Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
Recent Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
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