CVE-2011-4700 in UberSocial
Summary
by MITRE
The UberMedia UberSocial (com.twidroid) application 7.x before 7.2.4 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 • 02/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4700 affects the UberMedia UberSocial Android application version 7.x prior to 7.2.4, representing a critical security flaw in mobile application data protection mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from inadequate implementation of data protection measures within the application's architecture, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user Twitter accounts and their associated information.
The technical flaw manifests through improper data handling practices that fail to establish adequate security controls for protecting sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and Twitter's API services. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious applications that can intercept, read, or modify Twitter data through the compromised UberSocial application interface. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model, as it fails to implement proper authentication mechanisms, data encryption, or secure communication protocols required for protecting user credentials and social media information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users within the Twitter ecosystem. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to private tweets, direct messages, and other sensitive social media content, potentially leading to identity theft, social engineering attacks, or unauthorized account manipulation. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on the application for managing their Twitter accounts, as the compromised application can serve as a persistent backdoor for ongoing unauthorized access.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-311 (Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) categories, reflecting fundamental failures in data protection implementation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to social media accounts and potentially use these compromised accounts for further malicious activities. The weakness also demonstrates characteristics of T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) when attackers attempt to exploit the vulnerable application's communication channels.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to UberSocial version 7.2.4 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the data protection vulnerabilities. Additionally, users should review their Twitter account security settings, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor their accounts for unauthorized access or modifications. System administrators should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper security controls in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data and third-party authentication mechanisms, as highlighted in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure application development and data protection measures.