CVE-2011-3975 in ThunderBolt
Summary
by MITRE
A certain HTC update for Android 2.3.4 build GRJ22, when the Sense interface is used on the HTC EVO 3D, EVO 4G, ThunderBolt, and unspecified other devices, provides the HtcLoggers.apk application, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to obtain a list of telephone numbers from a log, and other sensitive information, by leveraging the android.permission.INTERNET application permission and establishing TCP sessions to 127.0.0.1 on port 65511 and a second port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3975 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting HTC devices running Android 2.3.4 with the Sense user interface. This security weakness specifically impacts the HTC EVO 3D, EVO 4G, ThunderBolt, and potentially other HTC devices that utilize the Sense interface. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of HtcLoggers.apk application within the HTC update package, which creates an unintended attack surface that exposes sensitive user data. The flaw operates through a combination of network accessibility and application permissions that collectively enable unauthorized data extraction from device logs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of the android.permission.INTERNET permission granted to the HtcLoggers.apk application. This permission allows the application to establish network connections, which when combined with the specific TCP port exposure on localhost, creates a pathway for remote attackers to access sensitive information. The attack vector requires establishing TCP sessions to the loopback address 127.0.0.1 on port 65511 and a secondary port, effectively bypassing normal device security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests as an information disclosure issue where telephone numbers and other sensitive log data become accessible through these network connections.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3975 extends beyond simple data exposure, representing a significant privacy and security risk for affected users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to obtain personal contact information and potentially other sensitive data stored in device logs, which could be used for social engineering attacks, identity theft, or targeted phishing campaigns. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that the vulnerability requires some form of user interaction or privilege escalation, but once exploited, the information disclosure can occur without additional user consent. This creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable HTC firmware version is installed on affected devices.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and the ATT&CK framework's information gathering techniques that involve collecting sensitive data from compromised systems. The vulnerability demonstrates how mobile device manufacturers can inadvertently create security risks through the inclusion of debugging or logging applications in production builds. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from HTC, network segmentation to prevent access to port 65511, and monitoring for unusual network connections to localhost. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid installing untrusted updates and to verify the authenticity of firmware packages before installation to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.