CVE-2017-15530 in Family Android App
Summary
by MITRE
Prior to 4.4.1.10, the Norton Family Android App can be susceptible to an Information Disclosure issue. Information disclosure is a very common issue that attackers will attempt to exploit as a first pass across the application. As they probe the application they will take note of anything that may seem out of place or any bit of information they can use to their advantage such as error messages, system information, user data, version numbers, component names, URL paths, or even simple typos and misspellings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15530 represents a critical information disclosure weakness within the Norton Family Android application ecosystem prior to version 4.4.1.10. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of information exposure issues that are frequently targeted by threat actors as initial entry points into applications. The security flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's internal structures, creating potential pathways for further exploitation. Information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged to identify additional weaknesses within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the Norton Family Android application, which is designed to monitor and protect children's online activities, making the exposure of sensitive information particularly concerning from a privacy and security perspective. The issue stems from the application's improper handling of sensitive data during its normal operational procedures, allowing information to be inadvertently exposed to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the Norton Family application processes and manages sensitive information within its codebase. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient output sanitization and improper error handling within mobile applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract version information, internal component details, and potentially user-related data that should remain confidential within the application's secure boundaries. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and encompasses various scenarios where sensitive data is unintentionally made available to unauthorized actors. The exposure occurs through the application's normal operational flow rather than through deliberate exploitation, making it particularly insidious as users may unknowingly provide attackers with information that can be used for subsequent attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in data handling and output management, where the application fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to sensitive information that could be accessed through various application interfaces.
The operational impact of this information disclosure vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risks for both individual users and the overall security posture of the Norton Family application. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain insights into the application's internal architecture, version information, and potentially user data that could be used for targeted attacks. This information can be leveraged to develop more sophisticated exploitation techniques or to tailor attacks against specific versions of the application. The vulnerability particularly affects the privacy protection mechanisms that the Norton Family application is designed to provide, potentially undermining the trust users place in the security of their children's online monitoring systems. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability fits into the initial reconnaissance phase of the attack lifecycle, where information gathering is crucial for successful exploitation of other potential weaknesses within the system. The impact is amplified by the fact that this is a mobile application designed for children's safety, making the exposure of information particularly concerning from a privacy and protection standpoint.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15530 should focus on comprehensive code review and security hardening of the Norton Family application. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output sanitization practices to prevent unintended information exposure during normal application operations. The fix involves updating the application to version 4.4.1.10 or later, which includes patches addressing the information disclosure vulnerability. Security professionals should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase and ensure proper access controls are implemented. The remediation process should include implementing proper error handling mechanisms that do not expose internal system information to end users. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unusual access patterns or attempts to extract sensitive information. This vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security measures, particularly in applications handling sensitive user data. The fix aligns with defensive security measures recommended in the ATT&CK framework for preventing information disclosure attacks and maintaining application integrity. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be implemented to prevent similar issues from arising in the future, ensuring that applications maintain robust security postures against evolving threats.