Facebook has patched a critical zero-day vulnerability in WhatsApp that can and has been exploited to remotely install spyware on phones by calling the targeted device.
The flaw, tracked as CVE-2019-3568, has been described by Facebook as a buffer overflow in the WhatsApp VOIP stack. The security hole allows an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code by sending specially crafted SRTCP packets to the targeted phone number.
Facebook addressed the vulnerability on Monday with the release of WhatsApp for Android 2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android 2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS 2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS 2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone 2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen 2.18.15. Prior versions are impacted. A server-side fix was implemented on Friday.
According to the Financial Times (subscription required), the vulnerability has been exploited to deliver spyware made by Israel-based NSO Group, a controversial company whose products have been used to spy on human rights groups, activists, lawyers and journalists. Its tools — the most well known are Pegasus (for iOS) and Chrysaor (for Android) — provide a wide range of spying capabilities, often by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.
FT reported that exploitation involves calling the targeted device via WhatsApp, but the victim does not need to answer for the vulnerability to be triggered, and the incoming calls are said to have disappeared from logs.
The publication said one of the victims was an unnamed attorney based in the United Kingdom, who was targeted on May 12. The lawyer is involved in a
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