CVE-2017-9819 in BHIM App
Summary
by MITRE
The National Payments Corporation of India BHIM application 1.3 for Android does not properly restrict use of the OTP feature, which makes it easier for attackers to bypass authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
The CVE-2017-9819 vulnerability affects the National Payments Corporation of India BHIM application version 1.3 for Android devices, representing a critical authentication flaw that undermines the security posture of digital payment transactions. This vulnerability specifically targets the OTP (One-Time Password) feature implementation within the mobile payment application, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to user accounts and financial transactions. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, where proper restrictions on OTP usage are not adequately enforced, potentially allowing attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism through various attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and control mechanisms within the OTP processing logic of the BHIM application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass the standard authentication flow by manipulating the OTP verification process, potentially reusing valid OTPs or generating fraudulent authentication sequences. The vulnerability likely resides in the application's session management, OTP token handling, or authentication state validation components, where proper input sanitization and usage restrictions are missing. This flaw aligns with CWE-305 authentication bypass vulnerabilities, specifically targeting improper authentication mechanisms that allow attackers to gain unauthorized access without proper credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9819 extends beyond simple account compromise, as it enables attackers to potentially conduct unauthorized financial transactions through the compromised payment application. Mobile payment systems are particularly vulnerable to such flaws due to their direct access to financial data and transaction capabilities, making this vulnerability especially dangerous in the context of digital payments. The ease with which attackers can bypass authentication creates a significant risk for users who rely on the BHIM application for their financial transactions, potentially leading to unauthorized fund transfers, account takeovers, and financial losses. This vulnerability also impacts the trust model of the entire digital payment ecosystem, as compromised applications can undermine confidence in mobile payment services.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper OTP validation controls, including time-based restrictions on OTP usage, one-time use enforcement, and proper session management protocols. The application should enforce strict validation of OTP tokens against known good values, implement proper rate limiting to prevent brute force attacks, and ensure that OTPs cannot be reused or replayed. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as biometric verification or multi-factor authentication to provide defense in depth. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper authentication design principles as outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, particularly focusing on mobile-specific authentication requirements and the prevention of authentication bypass scenarios. The remediation approach must include comprehensive testing of authentication flows, implementation of proper input validation, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.