CVE-2018-5242 in App Lock
Summary
by MITRE
Norton App Lock prior to version 1.3.0.329 can be susceptible to a bypass exploit. In this type of circumstance, the exploit can allow the user to circumvent the app to prevent it from locking the device, thereby allowing the individual to gain device access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5242 affects Norton App Lock, a security application designed to protect mobile devices by locking access to specific applications. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's access control mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to bypass the intended security protections. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 1.3.0.329, indicating that the developers had not yet addressed this particular security gap in their code implementation.
The technical flaw within Norton App Lock stems from inadequate validation of user authentication and access control mechanisms. When the application fails to properly enforce its locking protocols, it creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate the application's behavior to disable or circumvent the device locking functionality. This bypass exploit essentially undermines the fundamental security premise of the application, which is to restrict access to protected applications and prevent unauthorized device usage. The vulnerability operates at the application-level access control domain, where proper authentication checks are either missing or improperly implemented, allowing unauthorized access to device resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to device functionality. When exploited, the bypass allows attackers to gain full device access while the application is supposed to be actively protecting the device. This creates a significant security risk for users who rely on Norton App Lock to protect sensitive applications and data. The vulnerability essentially transforms a protective security measure into a potential entry point for malicious activity, as attackers can disable the very protections that users depend upon. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact exploit that can be leveraged to access protected applications and potentially sensitive information stored within them.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software applications, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1548.002 for bypassing application control measures. The flaw demonstrates how mobile security applications can inadvertently create security holes when their access control mechanisms are not properly validated or implemented. Organizations and individuals relying on such applications face significant risks when using vulnerable versions, as the security of their protected applications becomes entirely dependent on the robustness of the application's implementation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication checks within mobile security applications, as these components form the foundation of effective device protection.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to Norton App Lock version 1.3.0.329 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the bypass exploit. Users should also implement additional security measures such as enabling device-level encryption and maintaining updated mobile device management policies. Security professionals should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all mobile security applications within their environments to identify similar issues that might exist in other security tools. The incident underscores the critical importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive testing of access control mechanisms in security applications to prevent such bypass exploits from being exploited in real-world scenarios.