CVE-2014-1887 in DrinkedIn BarFinder
Summary
by MITRE
The DrinkedIn BarFinder application for Android, when Adobe PhoneGap 2.9.0 or earlier is used, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code, and consequently obtain sensitive fine-geolocation information, by leveraging control over one of a number of adult sites, as demonstrated by (1) freelifetimecheating.com and (2) www.babesroulette.com.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The CVE-2014-1887 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the DrinkedIn BarFinder Android application that leverages the insecure use of Adobe PhoneGap 2.9.0 or earlier versions. This vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of web content and its reliance on outdated mobile development frameworks that fail to implement adequate security controls. The flaw manifests when the application incorporates web-based content from external sources without proper sanitization or security boundaries, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary JavaScript code. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's integration with adult content websites, where attackers can leverage these domains to inject malicious code that executes within the application context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a combination of cross-site scripting and code injection techniques that take advantage of the PhoneGap framework's security model. When the application loads content from external domains such as freelifetimecheating.com or www.babesroulette.com, the insecure implementation allows attackers to inject JavaScript payloads that can execute with the same privileges as the legitimate application. This injection capability extends beyond simple code execution to enable sophisticated attacks that can access sensitive device capabilities, particularly the fine-geolocation information that the application requests for its core functionality. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of mobile application security and web security, exploiting the gap between web-based content delivery and native application security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive geolocation data that can be used for various malicious purposes including targeted advertising, surveillance, or identity theft. The attack vector demonstrates how seemingly benign applications that integrate with external web services can become gateways for more serious security breaches, particularly when these services are known to host malicious content. The vulnerability affects users who download and install the application, potentially compromising their location privacy and creating opportunities for further exploitation. The attack scenario illustrates the dangers of relying on outdated development frameworks that lack proper security hardening and input validation mechanisms, as these frameworks often fail to implement adequate sandboxing or content security policies.
Organizations and developers should address this vulnerability through immediate remediation efforts that include updating to supported versions of PhoneGap or alternative mobile development frameworks, implementing proper content security policies, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all external content integrations. The mitigation strategy should focus on eliminating the use of vulnerable frameworks while implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Security controls should include the implementation of content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized JavaScript code, proper sanitization of external content, and regular security testing of mobile applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting issues, and represents a specific manifestation of the broader ATT&CK technique of code injection that targets mobile application environments. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date development frameworks and implementing proper security controls when integrating external content into mobile applications.