Critical Security Flaw in Dreamehome & MOVAhome Apps Exposes Millions to MITM Attacks

A critical security vulnerability has emerged in the popular Dreamehome and MOVAhome mobile applications, sending ripples through the smart device ecosystem and raising urgent questions about the security of connected home technologies. Classified under CVE-2025-8393, this flaw—rooted in improper certificate validation—has exposed millions of users to the possibility of highly effective man-in-the-middle attacks, jeopardizing sensitive credentials and potentially undermining trust in Chinese-developed IoT platforms used across global communications infrastructures.

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Background​

Dreame Technology, headquartered in China, has rapidly ascended as a leading provider of smart home and cleaning devices. With a large international user base, its Dreamehome and MOVAhome mobile applications are essential tools for customers to manage and monitor devices from anywhere in the world. These applications serve as vital control hubs, enabling remote operation and status checks across a wide range of Dreame and MOVA-branded hardware.
Against a backdrop of growing cybersecurity concerns in the smart home sector, vulnerabilities in widely deployed mobile applications have become a key target for both independent researchers and adversarial actors. The improper certificate validation discovered in these apps underscores broader issues relating to supply chain security, international trust, and the evolving standards for mobile app development in critical infrastructure contexts.

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The Vulnerability in Detail​

Affected Products and Versions​

According to the disclosure, the scope of vulnerable products is sharply defined:

• Dreamehome iOS app: Versions 2.3.4 and prior
• Dreamehome Android app: Versions 2.1.8.8 and prior
• MOVAhome iOS app: Versions 1.2.3 and prior

Users running any of these versions are potentially exposed until appropriate mitigations or application updates are applied.

CVE-2025-8393 and CWE-295​

At the core of the advisory is an improper certificate validation issue (Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-295). Both Dreamehome and MOVAhome apps were found to accept self-signed certificates in their TLS communication process. In effect, this means that—when connecting to a server over what should be a secure, encrypted channel—the apps do not adequately verify the authenticity of the server’s certificate. This opens a dangerous avenue for man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks on untrusted or public Wi-Fi networks.
Specifically, an attacker situated on the same network can intercept communications between the mobile app and backend servers, presenting a forged (self-signed) certificate to the app. Because the app does not properly validate the certificate, it accepts the malicious connection, thereby allowing the attacker to intercept, read, and possibly alter sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, session tokens, and authentication materials.

Severity and Attack Complexity​

• CVSS v4 Score: 8.5 (High)
• CVSS v3.1 Score: 7.3 (High)

Both scores reflect the combination of high potential impact and low attack complexity. The flaw does not require any system privileges or advanced technical hurdles. Exploitation only requires access to the same network—common in shared environments such as hotels, public transport, or offices. Crucially, this vulnerability cannot be exploited entirely remotely via the public internet; an attacker must be local to the victim’s network.

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How the Attack Works​

Man-in-the-Middle in Practice​

In practical terms, a typical exploitation scenario could proceed as follows:

• Network Co-location: The attacker connects to the same insecure Wi-Fi network as the victim—say, in a café or airport.
• Communication Interception: The attacker sets up a rogue access point or leverages ARP spoofing to redirect traffic passing between the victim’s smartphone and Dreame or MOVA servers.
• Certificate Forgery: The malicious actor presents a forged (but cryptographically incorrect or self-signed) TLS certificate to the Dreame/MOVA app.
• App Acceptance: Due to the improper certificate validation, the app accepts the certificate and establishes what it believes is a secure TLS session.
• Data Exposure: All data sent by the user—potentially including login credentials, session tokens, and device commands—flows through the attacker’s intermediary, unimpeded and fully viewable.

The ramifications extend beyond simple credential theft; session hijacking, replay attacks, and privacy violations are all feasible, depending on the data exchanged.

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Real-World Risk Evaluation​

Types of Data at Risk​

Given that these apps serve as the central interface for managing smart home devices, the types of data potentially exposed include:

• Primary user credentials (usernames and passwords)
• Session and authentication tokens
• Device status and configuration details
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII) linked to user accounts
• Detailed historical device logs or usage patterns

The exposure of session tokens, in particular, could allow attackers to impersonate users, gaining unauthorized control over connected devices—even from remote locations if session manipulation is possible post-exploitation.

Broader Infrastructure Implications​

These apps are pervasive in communication infrastructures worldwide. Compromise could allow an attacker initial footholds for further lateral movement, particularly if the devices are integrated into broader smart office, industrial, or facility management systems—raising the risk profile from mere personal inconvenience to corporate or sector-level disruption.

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Dreame’s Vendor Response: Silence and Accountability​

In security incidents involving widely deployed products, coordinated disclosure with vendors is a vital mechanism for timely fixes and reducing user risk. In this case, Dreame Technology did not respond to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) outreach for coordination.
The absence of vendor response leaves both end-users and security practitioners in a precarious position. Without an official patch or workaround distributed by Dreame, all risk mitigation must occur at the user or organizational level. This lack of collaboration is particularly concerning for a company involved in critical communication sectors and with global reach.
MOVA, it should be noted, is a subsidiary of Dreame Technology—ensuring that any issue affecting one is directly inherited by the other.

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Mitigation Guidance and Recommended Actions​

Official Security Recommendations​

In light of Dreame’s inaction, CISA’s recommended defensive steps are now the primary bulwark against exploitation:

• Minimize network exposure of all smart home and control system devices. Devices should not be directly accessible from the public internet without strong security controls.
• Segment network architecture by placing control system networks and remote devices behind dedicated firewalls, distancing them from general business or home networks.
• Leverage secure remote access such as up-to-date Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), while remaining cognizant of the fact that VPNs, too, can have their own vulnerabilities. Always ensure all client and server components are current with patches.
• Conduct thorough risk assessments before deploying or modifying security controls, especially for critical devices.
• Monitor network traffic for anomalies indicative of MITM attacks or credential interception.
• Educate users and IT staff on the risks of using these apps over untrusted Wi-Fi networks.

Additional Resources​

For organizations seeking in-depth defense strategies, CISA points to comprehensive frameworks like Defense-in-Depth methodologies and technical resources for proactive protection of industrial control systems and communications assets.
Organizations encountering or suspecting exploitation should document evidence, follow internal incident response protocols, and report to CISA for incident tracking and coordination.

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No Known Active Exploitation—Yet​

As of publication, there are no reports of public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability. However, history demonstrates that vulnerabilities with low exploit complexity and high potential impact are often swiftly adopted by cybercriminals and penetration testers alike once publicly documented.
With detailed proof-of-concept information now in the open, the window for safe remediation is narrow. Users and administrators should act with urgency to apply network protections and review device deployments.

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Broader Context: Trust, Supply Chain, and Mobile App Security​

Persistent Problems in IoT Security​

This incident underscores a recurring pattern in the connected device space: the deployment of poor cryptographic controls and a lack of rigorous security oversight during app development. Improper certificate validation is a well-documented, easily avoided pitfall, and its presence in modern applications highlights systemic weaknesses in the mobile app supply chain.
Given the aggressive pace of IoT adoption worldwide, failures like this expose not just technical shortcomings, but industry-wide gaps in quality assurance, independent testing, and regulatory enforcement.

China-Developed Software Scrutiny​

Dreame Technology’s China-based headquarters further complicates the landscape, as software from the region is subject to heightened geopolitical scrutiny and sometimes faces barriers in cross-border transparency and regulatory cooperation. The lack of vendor responsiveness in this case will only deepen existing trust deficits among enterprise, governmental, and privacy-focused users.

Regulatory and Industry Response​

There is growing pressure for regulation requiring software supply chain security and transparent vendor responsiveness. Events like this may accelerate calls for legislation mandating responsible vulnerability disclosure and enforceable timelines for patch distribution, aligning software supply with critical infrastructure standards.

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Technical Analysis and Critical Observations​

Strengths and Notable Points​

• Rapid Disclosure: The vulnerability was reported by independent researcher Dennis Giese and quickly disseminated by CISA.
• Clear Mitigation Guidance: CISA’s layered, practical recommendations give organizations viable paths to reduce risk, even without vendor action.
• Global Stakeholder Awareness: The advisory’s international scope and critical infrastructure sector relevance ensure that governments, enterprises, and private users alike are made aware.

Flaws and Risks​

• Vendor Non-Response: Dreame Technology’s silence places the burden of defense on end-users and service providers, a significant failing by modern software security standards.
• No Direct App Updates: Until Dreame issues patched versions, the only mitigation is environmental—meaning full remediation is impossible for many users.
• Potential for Widespread Impact: With millions of devices and apps in global circulation, the risk footprint is vast and includes environments from private homes to corporate campuses and industrial facilities.

Cautionary Considerations​

Not all claims surrounding the scope and impact of the vulnerability are equally verifiable, pending further testing. While no attacks have been observed in the wild as of the current report, the likelihood of exploitation will increase over time if vendor remediation lags. Users should treat untrusted or public Wi-Fi environments as hostile until further notice when using any versions of the Dreamehome or MOVAhome apps listed.

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Recommendations for End-Users and Organizations​

• Check your app version immediately; update if new versions become available that address certificate validation.
• Avoid using Dreamehome or MOVAhome apps over public or insecure Wi-Fi until patches are confirmed and applied.
• Implement network segmentation and firewalls for all connected Dreame and MOVA devices in your organization or home.
• Stay alert for official security announcements and further updates from both CISA and Dreame Technology.
• Conduct risk assessments for any Dreame- or MOVA-integrated system, particularly in sensitive or regulated environments.

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Conclusion​

The discovery of improper certificate validation in Dreamehome and MOVAhome mobile applications serves as a timely reminder of the persistent challenges in securing the fast-evolving smart home and IoT landscape. While independent researchers and government agencies act swiftly to protect users, the ultimate responsibility for remediation still falls to vendors. Until Dreame Technology addresses this issue with a formal fix, users must remain vigilant, apply environmental mitigations, and treat affected networks as potentially compromised. The wider industry—with both regulators and developers in focus—must take heed, strengthening processes to prevent similar oversights before the next wave of connected innovation hits the market.

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Source: CISA Dreame Technology iOS and Android Mobile Applications | CISA