CVE-2023-42579 in Keyboard
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
Improper usage of insecure protocol (i.e. HTTP) in SogouSDK of Chinese Samsung Keyboard prior to versions 5.3.70.1 in Android 11, 5.4.60.49, 5.4.85.5, 5.5.00.58 in Android 12, and 5.6.00.52, 5.6.10.42, 5.7.00.45 in Android 13 allows adjacent attackers to access keystroke data using Man-in-the-Middle attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-42579 represents a critical security flaw in the SogouSDK component of the Samsung Keyboard application across multiple Android versions. This issue stems from the improper implementation of insecure communication protocols, specifically the use of unencrypted HTTP connections instead of secure HTTPS alternatives. The vulnerability affects Samsung Keyboard versions prior to 5.3.70.1 for Android 11, 5.4.60.49, 5.4.85.5, and 5.5.00.58 for Android 12, and 5.6.00.52, 5.6.10.42, and 5.7.00.45 for Android 13. The flaw creates a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks, where adversaries positioned within network reach can intercept and potentially manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the device and remote servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of secure coding practices and protocol security standards. When the Samsung Keyboard application communicates with its backend services through HTTP instead of HTTPS, it creates an opportunity for attackers to intercept network traffic without requiring advanced cryptographic attacks. This insecure communication pattern exposes keystroke data, which flows through the SogouSDK component during text input processing and prediction services. The vulnerability specifically impacts the keyboard's ability to securely transmit user input data, including text predictions, autocorrect suggestions, and potentially personal information entered through the keyboard interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to user privacy and data security. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows adjacent network attackers to capture sensitive keystroke information, potentially compromising personal communications, login credentials, financial data, and other confidential information entered through the affected keyboard application. The impact extends beyond simple data interception, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate the keyboard's predictive text services, potentially leading to more sophisticated social engineering attacks or data manipulation. This represents a significant concern for users in public Wi-Fi environments, corporate networks, or any scenario where network traffic might be monitored or manipulated by adversaries. The vulnerability affects a widely distributed application with extensive global user base, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate application updates and network security enhancements. Users must upgrade to the patched versions of Samsung Keyboard that implement proper HTTPS communication protocols and eliminate the use of insecure HTTP connections. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring and traffic inspection measures to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks in their environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege in network communications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1041 - Exfiltration Over C2 Channel and T1566 - Phishing, as it enables adversaries to collect sensitive information through compromised communication channels. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, encrypted DNS resolution, and comprehensive endpoint security measures to reduce the attack surface and protect against similar vulnerabilities in other applications.