CVE-2018-9467 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2024
In the getHost() function of UriTest.java, there is the possibility of incorrect web origin determination. This could lead to incorrect security decisions with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9467 resides within the getHost() function implementation in UriTest.java, representing a critical flaw in web origin determination mechanisms. This issue falls under the category of improper input validation and handling, specifically affecting how applications process and validate URI components. The vulnerability manifests when the system incorrectly identifies or determines the web origin of a given URI, potentially leading to security decisions based on malformed or inaccurate origin information.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of URI components within the getHost() function, which is responsible for extracting host information from Uniform Resource Identifiers. When processing various URI formats, the function fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed inputs that could result in incorrect host determination. This improper handling creates a scenario where the application might incorrectly assess the origin of a request or resource, potentially bypassing security checks that rely on accurate origin validation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core level of URI processing where security decisions are made, making it a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality degradation to potentially enable serious security breaches. An attacker can exploit this flaw to manipulate security decisions without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. The lack of user interaction requirements means that the attack can be executed automatically, potentially allowing for automated exploitation across multiple targets. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation through application logic flaws, where attackers leverage weaknesses in application behavior to bypass security controls. The vulnerability could enable cross-site scripting attacks, cross-origin resource sharing misconfigurations, or other origin-based security bypasses that compromise the integrity of web applications.
Security implications of CVE-2018-9467 are significant as they relate to the fundamental security principle of origin validation, which is crucial for preventing unauthorized access and maintaining application boundaries. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors to manipulate application behavior. Organizations using affected software may experience unauthorized access to resources, data leakage, or bypass of security controls that depend on accurate origin determination. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-20 indicates improper input validation, while its exploitation pattern aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving web application attacks and privilege escalation through logic flaws.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust URI parsing and validation mechanisms that properly handle all edge cases and malformed inputs. Developers should ensure that the getHost() function includes comprehensive input validation, proper error handling, and thorough testing of various URI formats to prevent incorrect origin determination. Security teams should conduct regular code reviews focusing on URI processing functions and implement automated testing that specifically targets origin validation scenarios. The fix should involve strengthening the URI parsing logic to ensure consistent and correct host extraction regardless of input format, potentially implementing standardized URI parsing libraries that have been thoroughly tested for security vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring mechanisms to detect and alert on suspicious origin determination patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.