CVE-2019-13097 in Cat Runner Decorate Home
Summary
by MITRE
The application API of Cat Runner Decorate Home version 2.8.0 for Android does not sufficiently verify inputs that are assumed to be immutable but are actually externally controllable. Attackers can manipulate users' score parameters exchanged between client and server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13097 affects the Cat Runner Decorate Home application version 2.8.0 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application programming interface design. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the API layer, where the system assumes certain parameters are immutable while failing to properly authenticate or sanitize data that originates from external sources. The root cause lies in the application's trust model which incorrectly treats client-supplied data as inherently reliable, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the intended behavior of the system. This represents a classic example of insecure data handling that violates fundamental security principles of input validation and trust boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of score parameters that flow between the mobile client and server infrastructure during gameplay operations. Attackers can craft malicious requests that modify score values, potentially leading to unauthorized score inflation or other game state manipulations that compromise the integrity of user achievements and leaderboard rankings. The flaw specifically manifests when the API processes user data without proper verification of data origins, allowing attackers to inject modified parameters that bypass normal validation checks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in manipulating application data flows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple score manipulation to potentially compromise the entire game economy and user engagement systems. When attackers can alter score parameters, they may gain unfair advantages in competitive environments, manipulate leaderboards, or even exploit the system to gain unauthorized access to premium features or rewards. The affected application's reputation and user trust can suffer significant damage when such vulnerabilities are exploited, particularly in games that rely heavily on competitive scoring systems and social sharing features. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input sanitization and validation at all levels of application architecture, especially when dealing with data that flows between client and server components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require comprehensive input validation mechanisms that treat all external data as potentially malicious and validate all parameters against expected formats and ranges before processing. The application should implement server-side validation that independently verifies all score-related parameters regardless of their source, employing techniques such as parameter binding, input sanitization, and strict type checking. Security measures should include implementing proper authentication and authorization checks for score modifications, utilizing cryptographic signatures to verify data integrity, and establishing monitoring systems to detect anomalous scoring patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines and implement defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and unknown attack vectors targeting the application's API layer.