CVE-2019-8632 in Texture
Summary
by MITRE
Some analytics data was sent using HTTP rather than HTTPS. This was addressed by no longer sending this analytics data. This issue is fixed in Texture 5.11.10 for iOS, Texture 4.22.0.4 for Android. An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to intercept analytics data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-8632 represents a significant security flaw in the data transmission practices of mobile applications, specifically affecting the Texture platform across both iOS and Android operating systems. This issue stems from the improper handling of analytics data transmission protocols, where sensitive information was being transmitted over unencrypted HTTP connections instead of secure HTTPS channels. The flaw creates a substantial risk for organizations and users who rely on these applications for business operations, as it exposes potentially sensitive operational data to interception by malicious actors within the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a protocol violation where the application's analytics subsystem fails to enforce secure communication channels for data transmission. This represents a clear violation of security best practices and can be categorized under CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information, which specifically addresses the transmission of confidential data over unencrypted channels. The flaw demonstrates poor security implementation in the application's network communication stack where the developers did not properly configure the analytics data transmission to utilize secure protocols, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks and network surveillance.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk profile for organizations utilizing the affected applications. An attacker positioned within a privileged network location such as a corporate network or public Wi-Fi hotspot could potentially intercept the transmitted analytics data, which may contain user behavior patterns, application usage statistics, device information, and other sensitive operational metrics. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as analytics data often reveals patterns about user behavior, application performance, and organizational activities that could be leveraged for targeted attacks or competitive intelligence gathering. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 - Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, where data is transmitted through communication channels that may not be properly secured.
The remediation for this vulnerability was addressed through version updates for both mobile platforms, with Texture 5.11.10 for iOS and Texture 4.22.0.4 for Android providing the necessary fixes. These updates likely implemented proper HTTPS enforcement for all analytics data transmission, ensuring that sensitive information is encrypted during transit and cannot be intercepted by unauthorized network actors. Organizations should immediately implement these updates across all affected devices and verify that analytics data transmission is properly secured. The fix represents a fundamental security improvement that aligns with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 control SC-8, which requires secure communication protocols for data transmission, and ISO/IEC 27001 controls A.13.2.3 and A.13.2.4, which address secure transmission of information and protection of information during transmission.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of secure communication practices in mobile application development and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the development lifecycle. Organizations should implement automated security testing for network communication protocols, ensure proper security configuration management, and maintain regular security updates for all deployed applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous data transmission practices can create significant security risks when proper encryption standards are not implemented, emphasizing the necessity of security-by-design principles in mobile application architecture and the importance of adhering to established security frameworks and standards throughout the software development life cycle.