CVE-2019-5626 in BlueCats Reveal
Summary
by MITRE
The Android mobile application BlueCats Reveal before 3.0.19 stores the username and password in a clear text file. This file persists until the user logs out or the session times out from non-usage (30 days of no user activity). This can allow an attacker to compromise the affected BlueCats network implementation. The attacker would first need to gain physical control of the Android device or compromise it with a malicious app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-5626 represents a critical security flaw in the BlueCats Reveal Android application version 3.0.19 and earlier. This issue stems from improper credential storage practices where the application persistently maintains user authentication details in plaintext format within the device's file system. The vulnerability manifests when the application stores both username and password information in a clear text file that remains accessible until explicit user logout or automatic session timeout after 30 days of inactivity. This persistent storage mechanism creates a significant attack surface that directly violates fundamental security principles for credential management and demonstrates poor implementation of secure data handling practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first establish physical control over the target Android device or successfully compromise it with malicious software that can access the application's data storage areas. This prerequisite aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for executing commands through command-line interfaces and T1021.001 for remote access through legitimate credentials. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials, and CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials. The persistence of these credentials in plaintext format for extended periods significantly increases the risk profile since attackers can maintain access to the compromised network even after the initial compromise window has passed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete network compromise of the BlueCats implementation. Once an attacker gains access to the stored credentials, they can establish unauthorized connections to the network infrastructure, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, network resources, or other connected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on BlueCats for location-based services or network access control, as it undermines the security model of the entire implementation. The 30-day timeout period creates a substantial window of opportunity for attackers to exploit this weakness, especially in environments where devices may be lost, stolen, or otherwise fall into unauthorized hands. The persistent nature of the stored credentials means that even if users believe they have properly logged out, the credentials remain accessible to anyone with physical access to the device.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate application-level issues and broader security posture improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper credential storage mechanisms such as encrypted storage using Android's Keystore system or similar platform-specific secure storage solutions. Organizations should also implement device management policies that enforce automatic lock screens, screen timeouts, and remote wipe capabilities to minimize the window of opportunity for attackers. Additionally, network-level controls such as multi-factor authentication and network segmentation can provide defense-in-depth measures that reduce the impact of credential compromise. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized access attempts and anomalous network behavior that may indicate credential misuse. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications to identify and remediate similar storage vulnerabilities that could compromise user authentication and network security.