CVE-2019-17398 in App
Summary
by MITRE
In the Dark Horse Comics application 1.3.21 for Android, token information (equivalent to the username and password) is 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-2019-17398 represents a critical security flaw in the Dark Horse Comics Android application version 1.3.21 where sensitive authentication tokens are inadvertently logged during the authentication process. This issue falls under the category of insecure logging practices and directly violates fundamental security principles regarding the handling of credentials and authentication information. The application's failure to properly sanitize or exclude authentication tokens from log output creates an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with access to the device's logging infrastructure.
This vulnerability manifests through the application's improper handling of sensitive data within its logging mechanism, specifically storing username and password equivalent tokens in plain text within system logs. The flaw occurs during the authentication process when the application writes authentication credentials to the Android logcat system, which is designed for debugging purposes but can be accessed by any application with appropriate permissions or by attackers who gain access to the device. The logging of authentication tokens creates a persistent exposure that can be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. This issue directly maps to CWE-532, which addresses the insertion of sensitive information into log files, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise multiple user accounts within the application ecosystem. An attacker with access to the device or the ability to extract log data can obtain valid authentication tokens that can be used to impersonate legitimate users and access protected content or perform unauthorized actions within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, potentially allowing for account takeover attacks, unauthorized content access, and data breaches. This flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including physical device compromise, malware installation, or through compromised application permissions that grant access to log data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure logging practices and proper credential handling within the application. The primary remediation involves ensuring that all authentication tokens, passwords, and sensitive information are completely sanitized from log output before being written to system logs. This includes implementing proper logging frameworks that exclude sensitive data from being recorded, utilizing secure logging libraries, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify all potential logging points that might contain authentication information. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by restricting access to log files and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to system logs containing sensitive information. Additionally, application developers should adopt secure coding practices that prevent accidental logging of sensitive data, implement proper input validation, and conduct regular security testing including penetration testing and code analysis to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's logging mechanisms. The remediation efforts should align with industry standards such as the OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for mobile application security.