CVE-2017-13100 in Moron Test
Summary
by MITRE
DistinctDev, Inc., The Moron Test, 6.3.1, 2017-05-04, iOS application uses a hard-coded key for encryption. Data stored using this key can be decrypted by anyone able to access this key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13100 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in the iOS application "The Moron Test" version 6.3.1 developed by DistinctDev, Inc. This issue stems from the application's implementation of encryption mechanisms that rely on a hard-coded cryptographic key, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that encryption is designed to provide. The presence of such a hard-coded key violates fundamental security principles and creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors with minimal technical expertise.
The technical flaw manifests as a direct violation of cryptographic best practices and is categorized under CWE-321, which addresses the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys. The application's developers embedded a static encryption key within the application code, making it accessible to anyone who can analyze the application's binary or memory structures. This approach completely eliminates the security benefits of encryption since the key used to protect sensitive data becomes publicly accessible through reverse engineering techniques, static analysis, or dynamic memory inspection. The vulnerability specifically affects the iOS platform and demonstrates a lack of proper key management practices that are essential for maintaining data confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating a comprehensive security risk that affects user privacy and data integrity. Any individual with access to the application can potentially decrypt all data that was encrypted using the hard-coded key, including sensitive user information, personal communications, or other confidential data that the application was designed to protect. This weakness transforms what should be a secure encryption mechanism into a transparent data storage system, effectively nullifying the cryptographic protections that users expect from mobile applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the entire dataset processed by the application, creating a persistent risk that cannot be resolved through user actions or application updates without complete code reimplementation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through complete code reimplementation that eliminates the hard-coded key and implements proper cryptographic key management practices. The application must adopt dynamic key generation techniques, utilize platform-specific secure key storage mechanisms such as iOS Keychain services, and implement proper key derivation functions that incorporate user-specific or device-specific entropy. Security measures should include the implementation of secure random number generation for key creation, proper key rotation mechanisms, and adherence to established cryptographic standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-57 for key management. Organizations should also implement code review processes that specifically identify and flag cryptographic implementation issues, and utilize automated security scanning tools that can detect hard-coded keys and other cryptographic weaknesses in application code. The remediation process must also consider the ATT&CK framework's T1552.001 technique for credential access through hard-coded credentials, ensuring that the solution addresses both the immediate vulnerability and prevents similar issues in future development cycles.