CVE-2012-1394 in GO Email Widget
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the GO Email Widget (com.gau.go.launcherex.gowidget.emailwidget) application 1.3.1, 1.8, and 1.81 for Android has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1394 affects the GO Email Widget application version 1.3.1, 1.8, and 1.81 running on Android platforms. This represents a classic example of an Android application security flaw that was not properly disclosed in its initial vulnerability report. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical implementation details were not fully documented in the initial CVE entry, which is common for early Android security issues where comprehensive analysis was not yet available. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation, improper error handling, or insecure coding practices within mobile applications that interact with system resources or user data.
The technical flaw within the GO Email Widget application likely stems from inadequate security controls that allow for potential exploitation through various attack vectors. Given that this is an email widget component, the vulnerability could potentially involve insecure data handling, improper authentication mechanisms, or buffer overflow conditions that may have been present in the application's codebase. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests it may have involved multiple potential attack surfaces including but not limited to privilege escalation, data exposure, or denial of service conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of mobile application security flaws that can be mapped to CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) or CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure or application instability. Mobile email widgets that integrate with system resources can potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges or access to sensitive user information, including email credentials, personal data, and potentially other system resources. The attack vectors could involve malicious manipulation of the widget's data handling processes, exploitation of weak cryptographic implementations, or leveraging the widget's integration with other system components to gain unauthorized access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper mobile application security testing and the potential for seemingly benign components like widgets to serve as entry points for more significant security breaches.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on comprehensive application security reviews and implementation of secure coding practices. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all mobile applications, particularly those with system-level integration capabilities. The remediation process should include code reviews to identify potential buffer overflows, input validation issues, and authentication weaknesses. Additionally, implementing proper application sandboxing, secure data handling procedures, and regular security updates can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This case highlights the necessity of adhering to mobile security best practices and following frameworks such as the OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines, which provide comprehensive recommendations for securing mobile applications against various attack vectors including those that may be present in widget-based components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following the principle of least privilege in mobile application design to minimize potential attack surfaces.