CVE-2017-15529 in Family Android App
Summary
by MITRE
Prior to 4.4.1.10, the Norton Family Android App can be susceptible to a Denial of Service (DoS) exploit. A DoS attack is a type of attack whereby the perpetrator attempts to make a particular device unavailable to its intended user by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services of a specific host within a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15529 represents a critical denial of service weakness in the Norton Family Android application version 4.4.1.10 and earlier. This security flaw exposes users to potential disruption of their device functionality, as attackers can exploit the application's susceptibility to cause service interruption. The vulnerability specifically affects the mobile security application designed to monitor and protect children's online activities, making it particularly concerning for families who rely on this protection mechanism. The DoS attack vector allows malicious actors to temporarily or indefinitely disrupt the normal operation of the device, thereby compromising the intended security services that users expect from the Norton Family application. This weakness creates an operational risk where legitimate users may experience service unavailability when the application is actively protecting their device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the Norton Family Android application's codebase. The flaw likely occurs when the application processes certain user inputs or network communications without proper sanitization checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" as a common weakness that can lead to denial of service conditions. The application's failure to properly handle unexpected inputs or edge cases in its processing logic creates an exploitable condition where a remote attacker can manipulate the application's behavior to achieve service disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of robust error handling in mobile security applications that process external data inputs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly impacts the reliability and trustworthiness of the Norton Family application as a protective service for families. When exploited, the DoS condition can render the security monitoring functionality ineffective, leaving children's online activities unprotected during the period of service disruption. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous as it can be initiated from anywhere on the internet. This weakness creates a scenario where malicious actors can intentionally disrupt parental monitoring capabilities, potentially allowing children to access inappropriate content or engage in unsafe online behaviors. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the application and undermines the security posture that families rely upon for digital safety, creating a situation where the protective mechanism itself becomes a point of failure.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15529 involve immediate deployment of the patched version 4.4.1.10 or later, which addresses the underlying DoS vulnerability through improved input validation and error handling mechanisms. Organizations and individuals should implement regular security updates for mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive family data and parental controls. Security practitioners should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential DoS attack patterns targeting mobile applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of mobile application security testing, including penetration testing and code review processes that identify resource consumption issues and improper error handling. From a defensive standpoint, implementing application sandboxing and resource limiting mechanisms can help contain the impact of similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping security applications updated and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in the application's core functionality while effectively addressing the denial of service condition. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software, particularly in applications that provide essential protective services for vulnerable users.