CVE-2018-17404 in SBIbuddy
Summary
by MITRE
The SBIbuddy (aka com.sbi.erupee) application 1.41 and 1.42 for Android might allow an attacker to sniff private information such as mobile number, PAN number (from a government-issued ID), and date of birth.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17404 affects the SBIbuddy Android application version 1.41 and 1.42, representing a significant security flaw that exposes sensitive personal information through insecure data transmission practices. This application serves as a digital banking tool for users of the State Bank of India, making the security implications particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of the financial data it handles. The vulnerability stems from inadequate implementation of secure communication protocols during data transmission, creating opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping scenarios that could compromise user privacy.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's failure to implement proper encryption mechanisms when transmitting sensitive user data across network connections. This weakness allows attackers positioned within the network infrastructure or those capable of intercepting network traffic to capture and analyze transmitted information. The vulnerability specifically impacts the transmission of mobile numbers, PAN numbers from government-issued identification documents, and date of birth information, all of which constitute highly sensitive personal data that could be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. The issue represents a violation of secure communication principles and demonstrates inadequate security controls in the application's network layer implementation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for both individual users and the financial institution itself. Users who transmit sensitive information through the vulnerable application may unknowingly expose their personal details to unauthorized parties, potentially leading to financial losses, identity theft, and reputational damage. The attack surface is particularly broad as the vulnerability exists in the network communication layer rather than being limited to specific user actions or conditions. This makes the vulnerability exploitable across various network environments and attack scenarios, including public Wi-Fi networks, cellular data connections, or even corporate networks where the application might be used.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data exposure to encompass broader threats to user privacy and institutional trust. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper network communication, and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged by adversaries following ATT&CK technique T1041, which involves data transmission through command and control channels, or T1566, which covers credential harvesting through network sniffing. The lack of proper encryption and authentication mechanisms in the application's communication protocols creates an environment where attackers can easily intercept and exploit sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust encryption protocols including TLS 1.2 or higher for all network communications, proper certificate validation mechanisms, and the implementation of secure coding practices to prevent plaintext transmission of sensitive data. Application developers should conduct thorough security testing including network protocol analysis and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other communication channels. Regular security updates and patches should be implemented promptly, along with user education regarding the risks of using unsecured networks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and traffic monitoring solutions to detect anomalous communication patterns that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.