CVE-2011-4702 in Nimbuzz
Summary
by MITRE
The Nimbuzz (com.nimbuzz) application 2.0.8 and 2.0.10 for Android does not properly protect data, which allows remote attackers to read or modify a contact list via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4702 affects the Nimbuzz messaging application version 2.0.8 and 2.0.10 on the Android platform, representing a critical security flaw in data protection mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from inadequate implementation of data integrity and confidentiality measures within the application's architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's weak security controls. The flaw specifically targets the application's handling of contact list data, which constitutes sensitive user information that should remain protected from unauthorized access and modification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves insufficient data protection mechanisms that fail to properly secure contact list information stored within the application's memory or storage components. Attackers can leverage a crafted malicious application to gain unauthorized access to the contact list data, potentially enabling them to read sensitive information or modify contact entries. This represents a fundamental failure in the application's security design, as it does not implement proper access controls or data validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized data manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear lack of proper input sanitization and output encoding, allowing malicious code execution through crafted data payloads that exploit the application's weak data handling procedures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for users of the Nimbuzz application, as it exposes their personal contact information to potential compromise. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could modify contact lists to create false entries, potentially leading to social engineering attacks or disruption of communication services. The vulnerability affects the fundamental trust model between users and the application, as users expect their contact data to remain private and secure. This weakness could be exploited in various attack scenarios including man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers intercept and manipulate contact information, or through privilege escalation techniques that leverage the application's weak data protection mechanisms to gain broader system access.
The vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat models, particularly CWE-200 which addresses "Information Exposure" and CWE-250 which covers "Execute Code via Modification of System Resources." The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and T1074.001 for "Data Staged" as attackers could use the compromised contact data to stage further attacks. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the application, implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious data access patterns, and conducting security awareness training to prevent users from installing untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability.
The root cause of this vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices in mobile application development, highlighting the importance of proper secure coding practices and comprehensive security testing. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where the application does not adequately restrict access to sensitive data or implement proper authentication mechanisms for data operations. Remediation efforts should focus on strengthening data protection mechanisms through proper encryption of contact information, implementing robust access control lists, and establishing proper input validation procedures to prevent malicious data injection. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications before they can be exploited by threat actors in the wild.