CVE-2017-9245 in News
Summary
by MITRE
The Google News and Weather application before 3.3.1 for Android allows remote attackers to read OAuth tokens by sniffing the network and leveraging the lack of SSL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9245 affects the Google News and Weather application on Android devices prior to version 3.3.1, representing a significant security flaw that exposes user credentials and authentication tokens to remote attackers. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper SSL/TLS encryption for network communications, creating a dangerous attack surface that allows malicious actors to intercept sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of OAuth tokens, which are critical authentication mechanisms used to grant applications access to user accounts and data without exposing passwords.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's reliance on unencrypted network connections that transmit OAuth tokens and other sensitive information in plaintext format. Attackers positioned within the network traffic can easily capture these tokens using standard packet sniffing tools, exploiting the absence of SSL/TLS encryption to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and their associated privileges. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-319 category of "Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information," which specifically addresses the transmission of confidential data without adequate encryption protection. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, as it violates basic security principles that require all sensitive data transmission to be encrypted end-to-end.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as OAuth tokens can provide attackers with persistent access to user accounts and services. Once obtained, these tokens can be used to access personal information, modify account settings, or even perform actions on behalf of the legitimate user. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it attractive to threat actors of varying skill levels. Network sniffing tools are readily available and can be deployed in public Wi-Fi networks, corporate environments, or even on mobile devices themselves, creating multiple potential attack scenarios. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes "Exfiltration Over Command and Control Channel" and demonstrates how unencrypted communications can facilitate data theft.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate application updates to version 3.3.1 or later, which implements proper SSL/TLS encryption for all network communications. Security administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate token interception attempts. Organizations should enforce mandatory SSL/TLS requirements for all applications handling sensitive data and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing robust encryption protocols that ensure all data transmitted between the mobile client and servers remains protected from eavesdropping and interception attacks. Additionally, developers should adopt security-by-design principles that mandate encryption for all sensitive data transmission, regardless of the environment or network conditions.