CVE-2020-5629 in UNIQLO App
Summary
by MITRE
UNIQLO App for Android versions 7.3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to lead a user to access an arbitrary website via a malicious App created by the third party. As a result, if the access destination is a malicious website, the user may fall victim to the social engineering attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5629 represents a significant security flaw in the UNIQLO mobile application for android platforms affecting versions 7.3.3 and earlier. This issue constitutes a remote code execution vector that enables malicious third-party developers to manipulate user navigation through crafted applications. The vulnerability specifically exploits the application's handling of external link redirection mechanisms, creating an attack surface where legitimate user interactions can be hijacked to direct users toward malicious websites. The flaw essentially allows attackers to create deceptive application interfaces that appear legitimate while routing users to harmful destinations, thereby undermining the trust model that mobile applications typically establish with their users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of external URI schemes within the UNIQLO application framework. When users interact with certain application elements that trigger external web navigation, the app fails to properly sanitize or validate the target URLs, allowing attackers to inject malicious links that bypass normal security checks. This weakness aligns with common web application vulnerabilities categorized under CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirection vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate or sanitize redirect targets. The flaw essentially creates a trust boundary violation where the application's intended behavior becomes compromised by external influences, enabling attackers to manipulate user sessions and potentially harvest sensitive information through social engineering techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to user security and privacy, particularly when considering the widespread adoption of mobile shopping applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create sophisticated social engineering campaigns where victims are unknowingly directed to phishing sites that mimic legitimate UNIQLO interfaces or other trusted services. The impact extends beyond simple information theft to include potential account compromise, financial fraud, and data exfiltration. Users who engage with the vulnerable application may unknowingly provide credentials, personal information, or payment details to malicious actors who have crafted deceptive interfaces to exploit the redirect mechanism. This vulnerability particularly affects the application's authentication and session management processes, as users may be redirected to attacker-controlled sites that attempt to capture login credentials or personal data.
The exploitation of CVE-2020-5629 follows patterns consistent with the attack tactics documented in the mitre attack framework, specifically targeting user interaction and social engineering vectors. Attackers can create malicious applications that appear legitimate but contain hidden redirect mechanisms that exploit the vulnerability to lead users toward harmful destinations. The attack chain typically begins with the distribution of malicious third-party applications that contain the crafted redirects, followed by user engagement that triggers the vulnerable code path. This vulnerability also aligns with attack techniques categorized under initial access and execution phases, where attackers establish footholds through deceptive means before escalating privileges or extracting sensitive information. Organizations should consider implementing network-based controls, mobile device management solutions, and user education programs to mitigate the risk associated with such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-5629 should focus on both immediate patching and defensive measures. The primary solution involves updating the UNIQLO application to versions that properly validate and sanitize external URI targets, ensuring that all redirect mechanisms implement proper URL validation and domain whitelisting. Organizations should implement network-level controls to monitor and block suspicious redirection patterns, particularly those targeting known malicious domains or exhibiting characteristics of phishing attacks. Mobile device management solutions should enforce security policies that prevent installation of third-party applications from untrusted sources and implement application whitelisting where possible. Additionally, user awareness training should emphasize the importance of verifying application sources and being cautious when encountering unexpected redirects or navigation changes within mobile applications. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL patterns and anomalous user behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in applications that handle external content or user-provided data, as emphasized in industry security standards and best practices for mobile application development.