CVE-2018-1000022 in Bitcoin Wallet
Summary
by MITRE
Electrum Technologies GmbH Electrum Bitcoin Wallet version prior to version 3.0.5 contains a Missing Authorization vulnerability in JSONRPC interface that can result in Bitcoin theft, if the user's wallet is not password protected. This attack appear to be exploitable via The victim must visit a web page with specially crafted javascript. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 3.0.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000022 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Electrum Bitcoin wallet's JSON-RPC interface that fundamentally undermines user asset security. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 3.0.5 and creates a pathway for unauthorized Bitcoin theft when users operate without password protection on their wallets. The attack vector exploits the lack of proper authentication mechanisms in the JSON-RPC interface, which allows malicious actors to execute wallet operations without proper authorization. The vulnerability's exploitation requires victims to visit a specially crafted webpage containing malicious javascript code, making it a client-side attack that leverages web browser vulnerabilities to compromise wallet security. This represents a significant concern in the cryptocurrency ecosystem where wallet security directly translates to asset preservation and user trust.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks within the JSON-RPC interface implementation, creating a scenario where operations that should require user authentication can be executed remotely. This missing authorization issue falls under the CWE-862 weakness category, which specifically addresses "Missing Authorization" vulnerabilities in software systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where the JSON-RPC interface fails to validate the authenticity of requests before executing wallet operations, allowing attackers to potentially access and manipulate wallet functions through crafted javascript payloads. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor within the wallet's communication protocol that bypasses normal security controls and authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple theft scenarios to encompass broader security implications for cryptocurrency users and wallet service providers. When users operate without password protection, they create an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit through social engineering or web-based attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation through web pages with malicious javascript demonstrates how modern web-based attacks can leverage browser capabilities to compromise desktop applications, creating a hybrid attack scenario that combines web security flaws with desktop application vulnerabilities. This attack model aligns with the ATT&CK framework's web-based attack patterns, specifically targeting the execution and privilege escalation phases where attackers gain unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate adoption of version 3.0.5 or later, which implements proper authorization controls within the JSON-RPC interface. Users should enable password protection on all wallets and avoid visiting untrusted websites that might contain malicious javascript code. Security practitioners should implement network monitoring to detect unusual JSON-RPC interface activity and establish proper access controls for the wallet's RPC interface. The fix implemented in version 3.0.5 addresses the core authorization issue by ensuring that all JSON-RPC operations require proper authentication before execution, thereby closing the vulnerability that allowed unauthorized wallet manipulation. Organizations and individuals should also consider implementing additional security measures such as network segmentation and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other wallet implementations or related software systems.