CVE-2013-4873 in Tumblr
Summary
by MITRE
The Yahoo! Tumblr app before 3.4.1 for iOS sends cleartext credentials, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4873 represents a critical security flaw in the Yahoo! Tumblr mobile application for iOS platforms prior to version 3.4.1. This issue stems from the application's improper handling of authentication credentials during network communication, specifically transmitting user login information in cleartext format rather than utilizing encrypted transmission protocols. The flaw creates a significant exposure point where sensitive authentication data becomes vulnerable to interception by malicious actors operating on the same network segment. Network sniffing tools can easily capture these unencrypted credentials, potentially compromising user accounts and enabling unauthorized access to personal content and blog management features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to implement proper Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for authentication communications. According to CWE-312, this represents a weakness where sensitive data is exposed through cleartext transmission, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and passive network monitoring. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication flow where user credentials are transmitted from the mobile device to Yahoo! Tumblr's servers without adequate encryption mechanisms. This flaw violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, particularly concerning the proper handling of sensitive data and secure communication channels. The attack vector relies on network traffic interception, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for network sniffing and credential harvesting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised accounts can lead to unauthorized content modification, data exfiltration, and potential account takeovers. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to user blogs and personal information stored within the Tumblr ecosystem. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected iOS application versions, creating widespread exposure across the Tumblr user base. Organizations and individuals relying on the application for content management face significant risks, particularly when using public or unsecured network connections where network sniffing becomes more feasible. The flaw demonstrates a critical gap in mobile application security practices, highlighting the importance of implementing end-to-end encryption for all sensitive communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment for the affected iOS application, with version 3.4.1 or later implementing proper TLS encryption for all authentication communications. Security professionals should ensure that all network traffic involving user credentials is encrypted using industry-standard protocols such as TLS 1.2 or higher. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate credential interception attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of conducting thorough security testing for mobile applications, particularly those handling user authentication data. Organizations should also implement multi-factor authentication mechanisms as an additional layer of protection against credential compromise. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in mobile application architectures, ensuring compliance with security standards and reducing the attack surface for credential-based attacks.