CVE-2012-4005 in NHN Japan NAVER LINE
Summary
by MITRE
The NHN Japan NAVER LINE application before 2.5.5 for Android does not properly handle implicit intents, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive message information via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4005 affects the NHN Japan NAVER LINE application version 2.5.4 and earlier on Android platforms. This security flaw resides in the application's improper handling of implicit intents, which represent a fundamental aspect of android application architecture where components can communicate without explicit declaration of the target component. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize intent data received from external sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the communication mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's reliance on implicit intents to process incoming data from other applications or system components. When an application receives an implicit intent, it typically uses intent filters to determine which components should handle the request. In the affected NAVER LINE version, the application failed to properly validate the source of these intents or to sanitize the data contained within them. Attackers could craft malicious applications that send specially formatted implicit intents to the LINE application, potentially triggering the application to process sensitive data in unintended ways.
This flaw enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive message information through carefully constructed malicious applications that leverage the implicit intent mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring local access or elevated privileges. The attack vector specifically targets the Android intent system, which is a core component of the mobile operating system's inter-application communication framework. This represents a significant security concern because it allows attackers to potentially intercept, manipulate, or extract sensitive communication data from the messaging application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. Attackers could potentially access private messages, user credentials, or other sensitive data that the application processes through the implicit intent mechanism. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications within the application, potentially compromising user privacy and data security. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector since it exploits the fundamental Android communication model without requiring complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor secure coding practices in intent handling, which is a common pattern that could affect other applications using similar approaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to the patched version 2.5.5 or later, which properly implements intent validation and sanitization. Security researchers should implement proper input validation for all implicit intents received by applications, ensuring that the source of the intent is verified and that the data content is sanitized before processing. This aligns with the principles outlined in the CWE-20 standard for improper input validation and addresses the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Additionally, developers should implement proper intent filtering and use explicit intents where possible to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices for Android applications, particularly regarding inter-process communication mechanisms and the proper handling of external data inputs.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend to the Android security model itself, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign application communication features can become security risks when not properly implemented. This type of vulnerability commonly occurs in applications that do not follow the principle of least privilege in their intent handling, where applications accept and process data from any source without proper verification. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that mobile applications must implement robust security controls even for core operating system features, as these components form the foundation of application security and user data protection. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their mobile applications, paying particular attention to intent handling and inter-application communication patterns to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced.