CVE-2025-65827 describes a security vulnerability in a mobile application that permits unencrypted HTTP traffic to all domains, including communication with its backend API server. This insecure configuration allows an adversary located 'upstream'—for example, on the same network segment, ISP, or any network node between the client and server—to perform man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. The attacker can intercept all HTTP traffic, inspect sensitive data such as authentication tokens, and modify requests in transit. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the use of MD5 hashing for login credentials, a cryptographic hash function known to be weak and susceptible to collision and preimage attacks. If an attacker captures a request containing active authentication tokens or the MD5 hash of a password, they can potentially crack the hash offline and gain unauthorized access to the user's account. This scenario does not require the attacker to authenticate or the user to interact with malicious content, increasing the risk. The vulnerability is significant because it compromises confidentiality, integrity, and potentially availability of user accounts and data. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an independent severity assessment.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to user privacy and data security, especially for those relying on the affected mobile application or similar insecure communication practices. Intercepted authentication tokens can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate or personal accounts, resulting in data breaches, fraud, or identity theft. The ability to modify requests could allow attackers to manipulate transactions or escalate privileges. Given the widespread use of mobile applications in Europe across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, the impact could be extensive. Additionally, regulatory frameworks like GDPR impose strict requirements on protecting personal data in transit, and failure to secure communications could lead to legal and financial penalties. Organizations with remote or mobile workforces using vulnerable apps over public or untrusted networks are particularly at risk.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations and developers should immediately enforce the use of HTTPS for all API communications, ensuring TLS encryption is properly configured and mandatory. The mobile application should be reconfigured to disallow clear text traffic entirely by setting network security policies that block HTTP connections. Authentication mechanisms must be strengthened by replacing MD5 hashing with modern, secure algorithms such as bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with appropriate salting and iteration counts. Implementing certificate pinning can further reduce the risk of MitM attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that no unencrypted traffic is permitted. User education on avoiding unsecured Wi-Fi networks and using VPNs can provide additional protection. Finally, monitoring network traffic for anomalies and deploying intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts early.