CVE-2018-17403 in PhonePe Wallet
Summary
by MITRE
The PhonePe wallet (aka com.PhonePe.app) application 3.0.6 through 3.3.26 for Android might allow attackers to impersonate a user and set up their account without their knowledge.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The PhonePe wallet application version 3.0.6 through 3.3.26 for Android contains a critical security vulnerability that enables unauthorized attackers to impersonate legitimate users and establish accounts without their consent. This flaw represents a significant breach in the application's authentication and account management mechanisms, potentially compromising user financial data and account integrity. The vulnerability exists within the application's user registration and authentication flow, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in the system's identity verification processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user credentials and account creation requests within the mobile application's backend communication. Attackers can manipulate the authentication flow by exploiting insufficient input sanitization and validation checks during the account setup process. This weakness allows unauthorized parties to submit forged account registration requests that bypass normal user verification procedures. The flaw likely resides in the application's handling of session tokens, user identifiers, or authentication challenges that should normally require explicit user consent or verification before account creation is finalized. According to the CWE database, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-306, which describes "Missing Authentication for Critical Function," and potentially CWE-347, addressing "Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account impersonation, as it creates a pathway for attackers to potentially access user financial information, transaction histories, and personal data stored within the PhonePe wallet ecosystem. An attacker could create multiple fraudulent accounts, potentially leading to financial loss for the legitimate users whose identities have been compromised. The vulnerability affects the fundamental trust model of the application, as it undermines the assurance that only authorized individuals can establish accounts. This weakness enables a range of malicious activities including unauthorized fund transfers, account takeovers, and potential data exfiltration from the compromised user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication mechanisms that require explicit user consent and verification before account creation. The application should enforce multi-factor authentication requirements and implement proper session management protocols to prevent unauthorized account establishment. Security measures must include enhanced input validation, cryptographic signature verification, and comprehensive audit logging of all account creation activities. Organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and anomaly detection systems to identify suspicious account creation patterns. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application's authentication infrastructure. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and should incorporate defensive techniques from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on defenses against credential access and privilege escalation attacks.