CVE-2019-17355 in App
Summary
by MITRE
In the Orbitz application 19.31.1 for Android, the username and password are stored in the log during authentication, and may be available to attackers via logcat.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17355 represents a critical security flaw in the Orbitz mobile application version 19.31.1 for Android platforms. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive authentication data within the application's logging mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises user credentials and authentication integrity. The vulnerability exists specifically within the authentication flow where the application fails to sanitize or mask sensitive information during log generation processes.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the Orbitz application logs authentication attempts, including username and password credentials, to the Android system logcat facility. This occurs during the normal authentication process where the application writes raw credential data to system logs without proper obfuscation or filtering mechanisms. The logcat system in Android provides a comprehensive logging interface that collects various system and application messages, making these sensitive credentials accessible to any process with appropriate permissions or to attackers who can access the device's logging infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk exposure for users of the Orbitz application, as it directly enables credential compromise through log-based attacks. Attackers with physical access to infected devices or those capable of executing malicious code with appropriate privileges can retrieve these credentials from the logcat output, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate credential theft to include potential account takeover, financial fraud, and identity compromise, as users may employ the same credentials across multiple services.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-532, which addresses "Information Exposure Through Log Data," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for handling sensitive information. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1070.004, "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion," as attackers may need to access and manipulate log files to extract the credentials, and T1566.001, "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment," if attackers use compromised credentials to access other systems. Organizations implementing the affected application face potential compliance violations under regulations such as PCI DSS, which mandate protection of sensitive authentication data, and HIPAA, if the application handles protected health information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper logging sanitization practices, including the removal of sensitive data from log output, implementation of credential masking during logging operations, and regular log review processes to identify and prevent future occurrences. Application developers should implement secure coding practices that exclude authentication parameters from log messages, utilize parameterized logging where sensitive data is not directly concatenated into log strings, and employ centralized logging solutions that can filter and sanitize sensitive information before storage. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to prevent similar issues in future releases, and mobile application security testing should include comprehensive log analysis to identify potential exposure of sensitive data.