CVE-2017-14486 in Vibease Wireless Remote Vibrator App
Summary
by MITRE
The Vibease Wireless Remote Vibrator app for Android and the Vibease Chat app for iOS use cleartext to exchange messages with other apps and the PLAIN SASL mechanism to send auth tokens to Vibease servers, which allows remote attackers to obtain user credentials, messages, and other sensitive information by sniffing the network for XMPP traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14486 affects mobile applications developed by Vibease that facilitate intimate communication between users through wireless vibrators and chat functionality on both android and ios platforms. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's communication protocols and authentication mechanisms that exposes users to significant privacy and security risks. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the improper handling of network communications and authentication tokens, creating opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping on sensitive user data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on cleartext communication protocols for exchanging messages with other applications and the utilization of the PLAIN SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer) mechanism for transmitting authentication tokens to Vibease servers. The PLAIN SASL mechanism, while designed for simple authentication, becomes dangerously insecure when used without proper encryption layers such as TLS/SSL. This mechanism transmits authentication credentials in base64 encoded format over unencrypted connections, making it trivial for attackers to intercept and decode sensitive information. The use of cleartext communication means that all data exchanged between the mobile application and backend services flows in plain text format, without any form of encryption or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user communications and personal information. Remote attackers who can intercept network traffic can obtain complete access to user credentials, personal messages, and other sensitive information transmitted through these applications. This exposure creates a significant risk for users who rely on these applications for intimate communication, as their private conversations and personal data become accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application functionality but also undermines user trust in the security of their personal communications and intimate relationships.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) within the CWE taxonomy, which specifically addresses the risks associated with transmitting sensitive data without proper encryption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) for initial reconnaissance and T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) for data exfiltration. The weakness represents a classic example of poor cryptographic implementation and inadequate network security controls. The vulnerability also demonstrates the broader issue of insecure communication patterns in mobile applications, particularly those dealing with sensitive personal information and intimate user relationships. Organizations should consider implementing mandatory encryption requirements for all network communications and authentication mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future application deployments.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of secure communication protocols including mandatory TLS encryption for all network communications, replacement of the PLAIN SASL mechanism with more secure authentication methods such as OAuth or JWT tokens, and comprehensive code review to identify additional cleartext communication patterns. Additionally, developers should implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms and ensure that all authentication tokens are transmitted through encrypted channels only. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application's architecture.