CVE-2017-9045 in Google
Summary
by MITRE
The Google I/O 2017 application before 5.1.4 for Android downloads multiple .json files from http://storage.googleapis.com without SSL, which makes it easier for man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof Feed and Schedule data by creating a modified blocks_v4.json file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9045 affects the Google I/O 2017 mobile application for Android systems prior to version 5.1.4. This security flaw stems from the application's insecure communication practices during data retrieval operations. The affected application establishes unencrypted connections to Google's storage infrastructure to download critical data files including feed and schedule information. This insecure transmission method creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of the application's data sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to enforce secure socket layer encryption when communicating with external storage endpoints. Specifically the application downloads multiple json formatted files from the http://storage.googleapis.com domain without implementing ssl/tls protection. This unencrypted communication channel exposes the data transmission to man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept, modify, or replace the downloaded content. The primary target file mentioned in the vulnerability description is blocks_v4.json which contains structured data that forms the core schedule and feed information displayed within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to potentially compromise the user experience and trust in the application's information. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can manipulate the schedule data and feed information presented to users, potentially causing confusion, misinformation, or disruption of planned events. The vulnerability enables attackers to create modified versions of the blocks_v4.json file that, when downloaded by the vulnerable application, would be processed as legitimate data, thereby propagating false information to all users of the affected application versions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-319 which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network communication. The attack vector follows the patterns described in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through phishing or man-in-the-middle attacks. The weakness represents a failure in secure communication implementation that violates fundamental security principles of data integrity protection during network transmission. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader mobile application security assessments and implement proper ssl certificate validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues in future applications.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of secure communication protocols throughout the application's data retrieval processes. Application developers must enforce ssl/tls encryption for all external data downloads and implement certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent certificate substitution attacks. Additionally, the application should implement data integrity checks including cryptographic signatures or checksum validation of downloaded files to detect tampering attempts. Regular security audits of network communication practices and adherence to secure coding standards should be mandatory for all mobile application development processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.