CVE-2012-4007 in mixi
Summary
by MITRE
The mixi application before 4.3.0 for Android allows remote attackers to read potentially sensitive information in friends comments via a crafted application that leverages the storage of these comments on an SD card.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4007 represents a critical security flaw in the mixi application for Android devices prior to version 4.3.0. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data storage practices within the application's architecture, specifically concerning how user comments are managed and persisted on external storage media. The issue manifests when the application stores user-generated content, including friends' comments, in a location that is accessible to other applications installed on the device, creating an unintended data exposure scenario.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted malicious application that can access the SD card storage where mixi stores comment data. This flaw constitutes a violation of data confidentiality principles and represents a classic example of insecure data storage practices that can be categorized under CWE-312. The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information that users might not expect to be stored in a publicly accessible location, particularly when the application does not properly implement access controls or encryption mechanisms for data stored on external storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a persistent security risk for users of the affected mixi application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather personal information from social networking interactions, potentially including private conversations, personal opinions, or other sensitive content shared between friends. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1021.001, which involves remote services and specifically targets data access and exfiltration through insecure storage mechanisms. The risk is particularly significant in mobile environments where multiple applications share storage space and where users may not fully understand the implications of data storage permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate application-level fixes and broader security awareness practices. The primary fix involves implementing proper access controls for external storage, ensuring that sensitive data is either encrypted before storage or stored in application-private directories that are not accessible to other applications. Additionally, developers should implement proper data sanitization and access control mechanisms that prevent unauthorized applications from accessing stored data. Security measures should include proper file permissions, encrypted storage solutions, and comprehensive review of all data persistence mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile application security frameworks that enforce secure coding practices and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of mobile applications.