CVE-2018-16223 in Cam Application
Summary
by MITRE
Insecure Cryptographic Storage of credentials in com.vestiacom.qbeecamera_preferences.xml in the QBee Cam application through 1.0.5 for Android allows an attacker to retrieve the username and password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16223 represents a critical security flaw in the QBee Cam Android application version 1.0.5 and earlier. This issue manifests in the insecure storage of authentication credentials within the application's preferences file named com.vestiacom.qbeecamera_preferences.xml. The weakness lies in how the application handles credential persistence, specifically failing to implement proper cryptographic protection for sensitive user information. This insecure storage mechanism exposes user authentication details to potential attackers who gain access to the device or application files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to utilize secure cryptographic practices when storing user credentials. According to CWE-312, this represents a specific weakness where sensitive data is stored in cleartext or with insufficient encryption, making it trivial for malicious actors to extract authentication information. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user credentials, as the username and password values are stored in plain text format within the XML preferences file. This approach violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent attack vector that remains viable even after the application is closed or the device is rebooted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables unauthorized access to camera systems and potentially broader network resources. An attacker with local access to an infected device can easily extract the stored credentials and use them to gain unauthorized access to the camera feeds and associated services. This represents a significant risk for IoT security and demonstrates how mobile applications can create persistent backdoors into physical security systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials in files, where adversaries exploit insecure storage of authentication data to maintain persistent access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation of the application's credential storage mechanism. Developers should implement proper cryptographic protection for all sensitive data, utilizing Android's Keystore system or similar secure storage mechanisms. The application must ensure that all authentication credentials are encrypted before storage and decrypted only during active use. Security best practices dictate that credential storage should follow industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and implementation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other data storage mechanisms within the application. Additionally, users should be advised to regularly update the application and monitor for security patches that address this specific weakness in credential handling.