CVE-2013-0134 in AirDroid
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web interface in AirDroid allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted text message that is transmitted by a managed phone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The CVE-2013-0134 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web interface of AirDroid, a popular mobile device management platform that enables users to control their smartphones through web browsers. This vulnerability exists in the way the system processes and displays text messages transmitted from managed mobile devices, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browser sessions. The flaw specifically targets the web interface component that handles incoming text messages, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or direct access to the target device. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security design that allows malicious scripts to be injected into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially formatted text message containing malicious script code that is then transmitted from a managed phone to the AirDroid web interface. When other users view this message through the web application, the embedded scripts execute in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious websites. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web interface's message handling mechanism, which fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided content before rendering it in HTML contexts. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Social Engineering" and represents a classic server-side XSS vulnerability that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable comprehensive session hijacking and unauthorized access to the AirDroid management interface. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain persistent access to managed devices, monitor user activities, and potentially escalate privileges within the device management ecosystem. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the AirDroid web interface and have access to view text messages from managed devices, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on the platform for mobile device management. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that text messages are commonly transmitted between devices and users, making it relatively easy for attackers to craft and deliver malicious payloads through legitimate communication channels. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of mobile device management operations, as unauthorized users can manipulate the web interface to perform actions such as device control, data access, and configuration changes.
Organizations utilizing AirDroid should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-provided content before rendering it in web interfaces. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping and content security policies to prevent script execution in message displays. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious message patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. Security patches and updates to the AirDroid platform should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as the flaw exists at the core web interface processing logic. Network segmentation and user access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for preventing injection attacks and maintaining web application integrity.