CVE-2014-0806 in Sleipnir Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Sleipnir Mobile application 2.12.1 and earlier and Sleipnir Mobile Black Edition application 2.12.1 and earlier for Android provide Geolocation API data without verifying user consent, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive location information via a web site that makes API calls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2018
The CVE-2014-0806 vulnerability represents a critical privacy flaw in the Sleipnir Mobile browser applications for Android platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 2.12.1 and earlier of both the standard Sleipnir Mobile application and the specialized Sleipnir Mobile Black Edition. The core issue stems from the application's failure to properly implement user consent verification mechanisms before exposing Geolocation API data to web applications. This technical oversight creates a dangerous precedent where sensitive location information can be accessed without proper authorization from the end user.
The technical flaw manifests through the Geolocation API implementation within the mobile browser framework. When web applications attempt to access location services through the browser's Geolocation API, the Sleipnir Mobile applications bypass the standard user consent prompts that should normally appear to request permission for location data access. This behavior directly violates fundamental security principles and privacy controls that modern mobile operating systems and web browsers typically enforce. The vulnerability essentially creates an implicit trust relationship between the browser and web applications, allowing unauthorized data collection without explicit user knowledge or approval.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to user privacy and security. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by hosting malicious websites that make direct API calls to access device location information. The implications extend beyond simple location tracking as location data often serves as a critical component in building comprehensive user profiles for targeted advertising, social engineering attacks, or even physical security threats. The vulnerability enables persistent tracking of user movements and activities, potentially exposing sensitive personal information including home addresses, workplace locations, and daily routines.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat models, particularly those addressing privacy violations and data exposure. From a CWE perspective, this issue relates to CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure, where security controls designed to protect user privacy are bypassed due to implementation flaws. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers can leverage this flaw to create malicious web pages that automatically collect location data without user awareness. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability as part of broader mobile security hygiene practices.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate application updates to versions that properly implement user consent verification for Geolocation API access. Users should be advised to avoid visiting untrusted websites while using affected browser versions and to regularly check application permissions. System administrators should implement mobile device management policies that enforce application updates and monitor for unauthorized access to location services. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing for mobile applications, particularly around privacy-sensitive APIs. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar implementation flaws in other mobile applications and browser frameworks to prevent similar privacy violations from occurring in their environments.