CVE-2019-16752 in Decentralized Anonymous Payment System
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Decentralized Anonymous Payment System (DAPS) through 2019-08-26. It is possible to force wallets to send HTTP requests to arbitrary locations, both on the local network and on the internet. This is a serious threat to user privacy, since it can possibly leak their IP address and the fact that they are using the product. This also affects Dash Core through 0.14.0.3 and Private Instant Verified Transactions (PIVX) through 3.4.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16752 represents a critical security flaw within decentralized payment systems that affects multiple blockchain implementations including DAPS, Dash Core, and PIVX. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTTP request routing within wallet software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate network communications and potentially compromise user privacy. The flaw allows attackers to force wallet applications to initiate HTTP requests to arbitrary destinations, both within local networks and across the internet, fundamentally undermining the security assumptions of these decentralized systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which addresses URL redirection and forwarding issues that can lead to security breaches. The flaw operates by exploiting the wallet's inability to properly validate or restrict outbound HTTP connections, enabling attackers to inject malicious URLs that the wallet will automatically attempt to access. This creates a vector for various attack scenarios including network reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and potential man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of Dash Core up to 0.14.0.3 and PIVX up to 3.4.0, indicating that these implementations failed to properly sanitize or validate external connection requests originating from wallet operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass serious security implications for users of these decentralized payment systems. The exposure of user IP addresses represents a direct violation of privacy principles that decentralized systems are designed to protect. When wallets are forced to communicate with arbitrary endpoints, users become vulnerable to network-level attacks that can reveal their location, network topology, and usage patterns. This threat is particularly concerning for users in sensitive environments where maintaining anonymity is crucial for security. The vulnerability also creates potential for credential theft, as attackers could redirect wallet communications to malicious servers designed to capture authentication information or transaction data.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol, T1046 for network service scanning, and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of affected software, implementing network-level firewalls to restrict outbound HTTP connections, and monitoring for unauthorized network activity. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and network security controls in decentralized applications, where the failure of any single security control can compromise the entire system's integrity and user privacy. Regular security audits and network monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent similar issues in other components of the decentralized ecosystem.