CVE-2025-70029 identifies a critical security vulnerability in Sunbird-Ed SunbirdEd-portal version 1.13.4, where the application disables TLS/SSL certificate validation by setting the 'rejectUnauthorized' option to false in HTTP request configurations. This setting effectively bypasses the verification of server certificates during HTTPS connections, allowing attackers to perform man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks by intercepting and manipulating network traffic without detection. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation), which is a common weakness leading to exposure of sensitive data. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the vulnerability's network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a high impact on confidentiality, while integrity and availability remain unaffected. The vulnerability does not require authentication, making it exploitable by any remote attacker who can position themselves on the network path between the client and the server. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the misconfiguration poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive information transmitted by the application. The lack of proper certificate validation undermines the fundamental security guarantees of TLS, exposing users to credential theft, session hijacking, and data leakage. The vulnerability affects all deployments of Sunbird-Ed portal version 1.13.4 or any other versions where this insecure configuration is present. No official patches or updates are currently linked, so organizations must manually audit and correct the configuration settings to restore secure TLS validation.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-70029 is the compromise of confidentiality due to the ability of attackers to intercept and read sensitive information transmitted over supposedly secure HTTPS connections. This can lead to exposure of user credentials, personal data, educational records, and other confidential information handled by the Sunbird-Ed platform. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, attackers cannot modify data or disrupt services directly through this flaw, but the information leakage alone can facilitate further attacks such as account takeover or targeted phishing. Organizations worldwide using Sunbird-Ed for educational management or content delivery face increased risk of data breaches and loss of trust. The ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) and network-based attack vector mean that attackers on the same network segment or capable of redirecting traffic (e.g., via compromised routers or malicious Wi-Fi hotspots) can exploit this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability is likely to attract attention from threat actors due to its straightforward exploitation and high impact on confidentiality.

To mitigate CVE-2025-70029, organizations should immediately audit their Sunbird-Ed portal configurations to identify any instances where 'rejectUnauthorized' is set to false in HTTP request options. This setting must be changed to true or removed to enforce proper TLS/SSL certificate validation. Developers and administrators should review the codebase and deployment scripts to ensure no insecure overrides disable certificate verification. Implementing strict transport security policies (HSTS) and using certificate pinning where feasible can provide additional layers of defense against MitM attacks. Network-level protections such as enforcing HTTPS-only traffic, using VPNs, and monitoring for suspicious network activity can help reduce exposure. Organizations should also stay alert for official patches or updates from Sunbird-Ed maintainers and apply them promptly once available. Conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on TLS configurations will help detect similar misconfigurations in the future. Training developers on secure coding practices related to TLS usage is recommended to prevent recurrence.