CVE-2023-3632 in Homework Helper App
Summary
by MITRE • 08/09/2023
Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerability in Sifir Bes Education and Informatics Kunduz - Homework Helper App allows Authentication Abuse, Authentication Bypass.
This issue affects Kunduz - Homework Helper App: before 6.2.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3632 represents a critical security flaw in the Kunduz - Homework Helper App developed by Sifir Bes Education and Informatics Kunduz. This issue manifests as a use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the application's authentication mechanisms. The flaw exists in versions prior to 6.2.3, indicating that the developers failed to implement proper key management practices during the application's development lifecycle. The presence of hard-coded cryptographic keys violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on static cryptographic keys embedded directly within the source code or configuration files. This approach eliminates the dynamic generation and secure storage of authentication credentials that modern security frameworks mandate. When cryptographic keys are hardcoded, they become permanently exposed to anyone who can access the application's binary or source code, effectively removing any meaningful authentication security layer. The vulnerability specifically enables authentication abuse and authentication bypass scenarios, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users or completely circumvent the authentication process without proper credentials.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for both the application's users and the organization maintaining it. The authentication bypass capability means that unauthorized individuals can gain access to user accounts, homework assignments, educational content, and potentially personal information of students and parents. The authentication abuse aspect allows attackers to manipulate the authentication process, potentially leading to privilege escalation or unauthorized data modification. This vulnerability particularly impacts educational applications where user privacy and data protection are paramount, as the exposed keys could provide access to sensitive academic information and personal identifiers of minors.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-320, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys in security-relevant contexts. This weakness directly violates several security best practices outlined in industry standards and frameworks such as NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the importance of dynamic key generation and secure key management. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1552.001 - Unsecured Credentials, as the hardcoded keys represent persistent credentials that remain accessible regardless of system updates or security measures. Organizations should implement proper key management solutions including secure key storage, dynamic key generation, and regular key rotation to address this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-3632 require immediate action including updating to version 6.2.3 or later where the hardcoded keys have been properly replaced with secure key management mechanisms. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify any additional hardcoded credentials or cryptographic elements throughout the application's codebase. The remediation process should involve implementing secure key management practices such as using environment variables, secure key storage services, or hardware security modules for cryptographic operations. Additionally, organizations should establish continuous monitoring for similar vulnerabilities and implement automated security scanning tools to detect hardcoded secrets during the development lifecycle, preventing similar issues from reoccurring in future releases.