CVE-2016-1185 in Kintone
Summary
by MITRE
The Cybozu kintone mobile application 1.x before 1.0.6 for Android allows attackers to discover an authentication token via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1185 affects the Cybozu kintone mobile application version 1.x prior to 1.0.6 on Android platforms. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's authentication mechanism that could potentially compromise user sessions and sensitive data access. The vulnerability specifically relates to how the application handles authentication tokens during mobile operations, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized parties to extract these tokens through carefully constructed malicious applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient protection mechanisms around authentication tokens within the mobile application's architecture. When users authenticate to the kintone service through the Android client, the system generates and manages authentication tokens to maintain session integrity. However, the vulnerable version fails to adequately secure these tokens from extraction attempts, particularly when other applications attempt to access or monitor the mobile application's processes. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious applications that can intercept or discover these tokens through various means including process monitoring, memory inspection, or direct application interface manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on kintone mobile applications for business operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially accessing sensitive business data, modifying records, or performing administrative actions within the kintone environment. The implications extend beyond individual user compromise to potential organizational data breaches, especially in enterprise settings where kintone applications might contain confidential business information, customer data, or proprietary corporate details. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security model that the application should provide for authenticated access.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with several common mobile security threats and can be categorized under CWE-200 - Information Exposure. It also relates to ATT&CK technique T1550.002 - Use Alternate Authentication Material: Application Access Token, which describes methods for stealing application tokens to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper token management and secure coding practices within the mobile application framework, where authentication tokens are not adequately protected from process-level inspection or extraction by malicious applications. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader mobile security assessment that includes application sandboxing, secure token handling, and proper process isolation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of the patched version 1.0.6 or later, which addresses the token exposure issue through improved secure storage and handling mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as monitoring for suspicious application behavior, enforcing mobile device management policies, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications. The patch likely incorporates better token encryption, secure storage mechanisms, and process isolation techniques that prevent unauthorized access to authentication tokens. Additionally, security awareness training for users about the risks of installing untrusted applications should be emphasized as part of a comprehensive defense strategy.