CVE-2013-0122 in Avast
Summary
by MITRE
The avast! Mobile Security application before 2.0.4400 for Android allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted application that sends an intent to com.avast.android.mobilesecurity.app.scanner.DeleteFileActivity with zero arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0122 affects the avast! Mobile Security application version 2.0.4400 and earlier on the Android platform. This represents a classic denial of service condition that exploits improper input validation within the application's intent handling mechanism. The flaw specifically targets the DeleteFileActivity component which is part of the mobile security application's file scanning and management functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate intent parameters when processing incoming intents through the DeleteFileActivity component. When a malicious application sends an intent to this specific activity with zero arguments, the application crashes due to unhandled null pointer exceptions or invalid parameter processing. This behavior aligns with CWE-457, which addresses the use of uninitialized variables or improper handling of null values in application logic. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper defensive programming practices where the application does not anticipate or handle malformed input from external sources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users of the affected avast! Mobile Security application. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious application that triggers the denial of service condition, causing the security application to crash and potentially become unavailable during critical security operations. This disruption could leave users vulnerable to malware threats since the security application may not function properly or may require manual restart to restore functionality. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond installing the malicious application, making it an easy target for exploitation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability as it undermines the core functionality of a security application that users rely upon for protection. The denial of service condition could be exploited in various attack scenarios including targeted attacks against specific users or mass deployment through malicious app stores. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers the use of application or system corruption for denial of service. The vulnerability also reflects poor input validation practices that are commonly exploited in mobile application security contexts, making it a prime example of how basic security principles can prevent such issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the avast! Mobile Security application to version 2.0.4400 or later, where the intent validation has been properly implemented. Users should also maintain awareness of their installed applications and avoid downloading applications from untrusted sources that could potentially exploit such vulnerabilities. Security researchers and organizations should implement proper input validation and defensive programming practices when developing mobile security applications. The fix should include robust intent parameter validation, proper null checking, and appropriate error handling mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future. Additionally, mobile security vendors should consider implementing automated testing procedures that specifically target intent handling and parameter validation to identify such vulnerabilities before deployment.