CVE-2013-2304 in Sleipnir Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Sleipnir Mobile application 2.8.0 and earlier and Sleipnir Mobile Black Edition application 2.8.0 and earlier for Android allow remote attackers to load arbitrary Extension APIs, and trigger downloads or obtain sensitive HTTP response-body information, via a crafted web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2018
The CVE-2013-2304 vulnerability affects the Sleipnir Mobile browser applications for Android, specifically versions 2.8.0 and earlier, including both the standard and Black Edition variants. This security flaw represents a significant concern for mobile browser users as it enables remote attackers to exploit the application's extension API loading mechanism. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of extension APIs that can be loaded by the browser, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the application's execution environment. The issue manifests when users encounter crafted web pages that trigger the loading of unauthorized extension components, potentially compromising the device's security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's failure to properly validate or sanitize extension API requests that originate from remote web pages. When a maliciously crafted webpage is loaded, it can instruct the browser to download and execute arbitrary extension components that are not properly vetted or authenticated. This behavior creates a path for attackers to potentially access sensitive HTTP response body information, which could include confidential data transmitted between the user's device and web servers. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of code injection that bypasses normal security boundaries within the browser's extension handling architecture, enabling attackers to execute unauthorized operations within the application's context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses serious risks to users who browse the internet using the affected Sleipnir Mobile applications. The ability to trigger downloads and access sensitive HTTP response body information means that attackers could potentially intercept login credentials, personal data, financial information, or other confidential content transmitted over HTTP connections. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need to perform any specific actions beyond visiting a compromised webpage, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious website attacks. This weakness directly impacts the browser's security model and could lead to full device compromise if attackers leverage the extension loading mechanism to execute more sophisticated malicious payloads.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which addresses "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type," as the application fails to properly validate the types of extension APIs that can be loaded from remote sources. Additionally, this issue relates to CWE-200, "Exposure of Sensitive Information," since it allows attackers to obtain sensitive HTTP response body information that may contain confidential data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001, "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell", and T1071.004, "Application Layer Protocol: DNS", as attackers can leverage the extension loading capability to establish command execution and data exfiltration channels. Organizations should consider implementing network-level protections and browser security policies that restrict extension loading from untrusted sources. Users should immediately update to versions of Sleipnir Mobile that address this vulnerability, as the affected versions represent a significant security risk. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing web application firewalls or content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious domains that may leverage this vulnerability.