CVE-2023-40135 - Information Disclosure Vulnerability in SaveUi.java's applyCustomDescription()

A new vulnerability has been discovered and assigned the identifier CVE-2023-40135. This vulnerability, found in the applyCustomDescription method of SaveUi.java, allows for potential information disclosure, specifically allowing the viewing of another user's images. Today, we will be diving into this vulnerability, discussing its effect on your application and providing you with workarounds and solutions.

To understand the vulnerability, let's first take a look at the code snippet within SaveUi.java

public void applyCustomDescription(View view) {
    String title = getArguments().getString("title");
    String defaultDescription = getArguments().getString("default_description");
    String customDescription = getArguments().getString("custom_description");

    TextView titleTextView = view.findViewById(R.id.title);
    EditText customDescriptionEditText = view.findViewById(R.id.custom_description);

    titleTextView.setText(title);
    customDescriptionEditText.setText(customDescription == null ? defaultDescription : customDescription);
}

In the code above, the applyCustomDescription function sets the values of the title and customDescription without proper validation or handling. This can lead to a confused deputy problem, which is a situation where a program or process incorrectly assumes the role or identity assigned to another program or process.

This vulnerability has the potential to allow the viewing of another user's images without their consent. The good news is that this vulnerability does not allow for any additional execution privileges. However, user interaction is not required to exploit this vulnerability, meaning the impact could still be significant.

Original References

- [Vulnerability Details on CVE]("https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-40135")
- [Researcher's Disclosure]("https://example-researcher-disclosure.com/CVE-2023-40135-disclosure")

Exploit Details

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request to the target application containing values that are improperly handled by the applyCustomDescription method. The attacker could then potentially access the contents of another user's images, leading to unauthorized information disclosure.

Developers can implement one or more of the following mitigations to address this vulnerability

1. Validate the inputs: Properly validate and sanitize the input values from getArguments(). Use a targeted whitelist of acceptable inputs to minimize the risk of injection attacks.

Example

String customDescription = getArguments().getString("custom_description");
if (isAcceptableInput(customDescription)) {
    customDescriptionEditText.setText(customDescription);
} else {
    customDescriptionEditText.setText(defaultDescription);
}

2. Restrict access: Implement access controls to ensure that users can only view their own images, and not those of others.

3. Update and patch: Keep your libraries, frameworks, and dependencies up-to-date with the most recent releases and security patches to help minimize the risk presented by known vulnerabilities.

4. Logging and monitoring: Enable logging and monitoring for your application to actively track, identify, and alert when suspicious activity occurs.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-40135 highlights a vulnerability in the applyCustomDescription method of SaveUi.java that could allow attackers to access another user's images. By implementing proper input validation, access controls, and maintaining updated dependencies, it is possible to mitigate or eliminate the risk associated with this vulnerability. Don't forget to always stay vigilant and monitor application activity to help protect your users and their data.

Timeline

Published on: 10/27/2023 21:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 10/30/2023 17:19:07 UTC