CVE-2020-35138 in MobileIron
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2021
The MobileIron agents through 2021-03-22 for Android and iOS contain a hardcoded encryption key, used to encrypt the submission of username/password details during the authentication process, as demonstrated by Mobile@Work (aka com.mobileiron). The key is in the com/mobileiron/common/utils/C4928m.java file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35138 represents a critical security flaw within MobileIron agents version 2021-03-22 and earlier for both Android and iOS platforms. This weakness specifically affects the Mobile@Work application, which is part of the broader MobileIron mobile device management ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a hardcoded encryption key within the application's source code, creating a fundamental weakness in the authentication process that could be exploited by malicious actors. The affected file com/mobileiron/common/utils/C4928m.java contains this hardcoded key, making it accessible to anyone with access to the application binaries or reverse engineering capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of a static encryption key embedded directly within the mobile application code rather than dynamically generating or retrieving keys through secure channels. This approach violates fundamental cryptographic best practices and creates a scenario where the encryption mechanism becomes entirely predictable and reversible. When users authenticate through Mobile@Work, their username and password credentials are encrypted using this hardcoded key before being transmitted to MobileIron servers. The encryption process, while intended to protect sensitive authentication data, becomes ineffective due to the key's exposure within the application's compiled code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it represents a complete breakdown in the security model of the authentication process. Attackers who obtain the application binaries or perform reverse engineering can easily extract the hardcoded key and subsequently decrypt any authentication data that was encrypted using this mechanism. This creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable application version is in use, potentially allowing attackers to intercept and decode credentials from multiple authentication sessions. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of user authentication data, potentially enabling unauthorized access to corporate networks and resources managed through MobileIron.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and hardcoded keys, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials. The presence of hardcoded encryption keys violates security standards established by NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 15408, which mandate proper key management practices and dynamic key generation for cryptographic operations. Organizations utilizing MobileIron solutions face significant risk of credential compromise and potential lateral movement within their networks if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that MobileIron agents are typically deployed on mobile devices that may be lost, stolen, or compromised, creating additional vectors for attackers to exploit the hardcoded encryption key.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected MobileIron agents to version 2021-03-23 or later, which removes the hardcoded encryption key and implements proper dynamic key generation. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential credential interception attempts and consider deploying additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of their mobile application deployments to identify any other instances of hardcoded cryptographic keys and ensure proper key management practices are implemented across all mobile applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of avoiding hardcoded cryptographic elements in mobile applications.