CVE-2016-10697 in react-native-baidu-voice-synthesizer
Summary
by MITRE
react-native-baidu-voice-synthesizer is a baidu voice speech synthesizer for react native. react-native-baidu-voice-synthesizer downloads resources over HTTP, which leaves it vulnerable to MITM attacks. It may be possible to cause remote code execution (RCE) by swapping out the requested resources with an attacker controlled copy if the attacker is on the network or positioned in between the user and the remote server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10697 affects the react-native-baidu-voice-synthesizer library, which serves as a speech synthesis component for react native applications. This library implements functionality to download resources over unencrypted HTTP connections rather than secure HTTPS protocols. The fundamental security flaw lies in the absence of transport layer encryption and authentication mechanisms during resource retrieval processes. This design decision creates a significant attack surface that exposes applications using this library to various network-based threats. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information, which specifically addresses the transmission of sensitive data over unencrypted channels. The implementation fails to validate the integrity of downloaded resources, creating opportunities for adversaries to manipulate the communication channel between the application and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enable full remote code execution capabilities. When applications download resources over HTTP, attackers positioned within the network traffic flow can perform man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept and modify the downloaded content. This scenario allows threat actors to replace legitimate resources with malicious payloads that the application will execute without proper validation. The attack vector requires the adversary to either be on the same network segment as the victim or to have network positioning capabilities such as DNS spoofing, ARP spoofing, or packet interception. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction, as the application automatically downloads and executes resources from the specified URLs. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where malicious code can be injected through compromised download channels.
The security implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over affected applications. When an attacker successfully substitutes downloaded resources with malicious code, they can execute arbitrary commands on the target device, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network exploration. The vulnerability affects mobile applications that rely on the react native framework, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users connect to public or untrusted networks. The lack of certificate validation and content integrity checks means that even if the application uses legitimate Baidu services, the communication can still be compromised. Organizations implementing this library should consider the broader security implications of using third-party components that do not properly implement secure communication protocols. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing proper transport layer security measures to prevent unauthorized access and code execution. This issue highlights the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all external dependencies used in mobile application development, particularly those that handle network communications and resource downloads.