CVE-2015-5635 in Koritore Application
Summary
by MITRE
The Newphoria Koritore application before 1.1 for Android and before 1.1 for iOS allows attackers to bypass a URL whitelist protection mechanism and obtain API access via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5635 affects the Newphoria Koritore mobile application across both android and ios platforms prior to version 1.1. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's access control mechanisms that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data and system resources. The issue stems from an insufficient implementation of URL whitelist protection, which is a fundamental security control designed to restrict application communication to only trusted endpoints. This weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended security boundaries and gain unauthorized access to backend APIs that should remain protected.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the application's failure to properly validate and enforce URL whitelist restrictions during runtime operations. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to bypass these protective measures, effectively allowing them to redirect API requests to unauthorized endpoints. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation. The weakness creates an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the application's network communication behavior to access sensitive information or perform unauthorized operations against backend services. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and specifically relates to the improper restriction of operations within a recognized access control system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to obtain unauthorized API access without proper authentication or authorization. This compromise can lead to data exfiltration, unauthorized transactions, service disruption, and potential escalation to more severe attacks within the application ecosystem. Mobile applications that rely on backend APIs for functionality are particularly vulnerable since they often contain sensitive user data, authentication tokens, and business-critical information. The attack vector allows for persistent unauthorized access that could remain undetected for extended periods, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in mobile application security contexts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5635 should focus on implementing robust URL validation and access control mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach includes strengthening the URL whitelist implementation to ensure runtime validation of all network requests, implementing proper input sanitization, and enforcing strict access control policies. Security measures should also include regular security testing, including dynamic application security testing and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous API access patterns and establish proper incident response procedures. Additionally, the application should be updated to version 1.1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper implementation of access control mechanisms. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper secure coding practices and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.