CVE-2013-0128 in TigerText
Summary
by MITRE
The Contact Customer Support feature in the TigerText Free Private Texting app before 3.1.402 for iOS sends a log-file e-mail message with unencrypted credentials, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network or leveraging access to an e-mail endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0128 affects the TigerText Free Private Texting application version 3.1.402 and earlier for iOS devices. This security flaw resides within the Contact Customer Support functionality of the messaging application, which is designed to facilitate user communication with technical support teams. The application's implementation of this feature creates a significant security risk by transmitting sensitive user data through unencrypted email communications without proper authentication or encryption mechanisms. The flaw represents a critical oversight in the application's security architecture, particularly concerning how it handles sensitive information during support interactions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure sensitive data during transmission through the customer support feature. When users initiate contact with technical support, the application automatically generates and sends email messages containing log files that include unencrypted authentication credentials. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles for handling sensitive information, as the credentials are transmitted in plaintext over potentially insecure network channels. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to implement proper encryption protocols or secure credential handling mechanisms during the email transmission process, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit through network sniffing or email endpoint compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors seeking to compromise user accounts and access private communications. Network sniffing attacks can easily capture the unencrypted email transmissions containing user credentials, while attackers with access to email endpoints or storage systems can directly retrieve the sensitive information. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these credentials could potentially be used to access other services if users employ the same authentication information across multiple platforms, creating a cascading security risk that impacts broader user security posture.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which covers data from network shared modules, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts. The attack scenario begins with network reconnaissance and packet capture activities that allow attackers to intercept the unencrypted email communications. Once credentials are obtained, attackers can leverage these to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially compromise the encrypted messaging communications that the application is designed to protect. The vulnerability also exposes the application to credential stuffing attacks where compromised credentials can be tested against other services, and represents a significant weakness in the application's defense-in-depth strategy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure credential handling practices and encryption protocols. Organizations should implement mandatory encryption for all email communications containing sensitive data, utilize secure email transmission protocols such as S/MIME or PGP, and ensure that authentication credentials are never transmitted in plaintext. The application should be updated to version 3.1.402 or later, which includes proper encryption mechanisms for customer support communications. Additionally, security teams should implement network monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized email interception attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of using unique credentials across different services. The fix should also incorporate proper input validation and secure data handling practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles, ensuring that all sensitive information is properly encrypted both in transit and at rest.