CVE-2011-4699 in Twidroyd Legacy
Summary
by MITRE
The Ubermedia Twidroyd Legacy (com.twidroydlegacy) application 4.3.11 for Android does not properly protect data, which allows remote attackers to read or modify Twitter information via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4699 represents a critical data protection flaw in the Ubermedia Twidroyd Legacy Android application version 4.3.11. This application serves as a third-party Twitter client that allows users to manage their Twitter accounts directly from mobile devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient data protection mechanisms within the application's architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise user Twitter information. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's inability to properly secure sensitive data during transmission and storage operations, making it susceptible to unauthorized access and manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of data integrity and confidentiality measures within the application's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting a malicious application that leverages the vulnerable Twidroyd Legacy application's data access points. This allows remote threat actors to intercept, read, or modify Twitter account information including tweets, direct messages, and user credentials. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which unauthorized parties can gain access to sensitive user data without proper authentication or authorization. The flaw likely resides in how the application manages data transmission protocols, storage encryption, or access control mechanisms that should normally protect user information from external interference.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential account takeovers and unauthorized social media manipulation. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain complete control over compromised Twitter accounts, enabling them to post malicious content, steal followers, or use the accounts for phishing campaigns. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly without requiring additional user interaction. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be weaponized for large-scale social engineering attacks or to spread misinformation through compromised social media accounts. The attack surface is further expanded due to the application's legitimate access to Twitter APIs and user credentials.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-311 (Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) categories, which directly relate to the application's failure to properly protect user data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) techniques, as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to maintain persistent access to Twitter accounts. The vulnerability also aligns with T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1566 (Phishing) tactics as attackers may use the compromised accounts for further reconnaissance and social engineering operations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including application updates, network monitoring for suspicious activity, and user education about the risks of installing untrusted applications that may interact with sensitive data. The recommended remediation involves comprehensive code review, implementation of proper encryption protocols, and adherence to mobile security best practices for data protection.