CVE-2012-4008 in Live
Summary
by MITRE
The Cybozu Live application 1.0.4 and earlier for Android allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Java methods, and obtain sensitive information or execute arbitrary commands, via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4008 affects the Cybozu Live application version 1.0.4 and earlier on Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution and information disclosure. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of web content within the application's webview component, which processes external web content without adequate sanitization mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's improper handling of specially crafted web sites that can trigger arbitrary Java method execution within the Android application context. This occurs due to inadequate sandboxing and security controls within the webview implementation, allowing malicious web content to bypass normal application security boundaries and execute native Java code directly on the device. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's interaction with web content through the Android WebView component, which lacks proper security restrictions when processing external resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as remote attackers can leverage it to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices, potentially gaining complete control over the application's functionality and underlying system resources. Attackers can exploit this flaw to access sensitive information stored within the application, including user credentials, personal data, and business information. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized access to corporate networks, and further exploitation of the compromised device.
Security implications extend beyond immediate data compromise, as this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) categories, representing a classic case of code injection vulnerability within mobile applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, highlighting the potential for lateral movement and persistent access within compromised environments. Organizations using affected versions of Cybozu Live applications face significant risk of targeted attacks, particularly in enterprise environments where such applications may contain sensitive business data and user information.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application updates to versions that address the vulnerability, implementation of network-level restrictions to prevent access to untrusted web content, and deployment of mobile device management solutions to enforce security policies. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation, secure coding practices, and regular security assessments of mobile applications, particularly those that integrate web content processing capabilities. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding guidelines that emphasize proper sandboxing of web content, implementation of strict access controls, and comprehensive security testing of mobile applications before deployment to production environments.