A security vulnerability in WhatsApp that was made public last week could be abused to execute arbitrary code remotely on affected devices.
Tracked as CVE-2019-11931, the issue is a stack-based buffer overflow that can be triggered by sending a specially crafted MP4 file via WhatsApp, Facebook explains in an advisory.
The buffer overflow occurs when the application parses the elementary stream metadata of an MP4 file. An attacker could target the security bug to trigger a denial of service (DoS) or to execute code remotely.
The vulnerability could be exploited to install malicious applications onto a victim’s device by sending an MP4 file programmed to execute code once opened.
Facebook notes in its advisory that both consumer and enterprise versions of WhatsApp are impacted.
Specifically, the flaw affects Android versions prior to 2.19.274, Business for Android versions prior to 2.19.104, iOS versions prior to 2.19.100, Business for iOS versions prior to 2.19.100, Enterprise Client versions prior to 2.25.3, and Windows Phone versions up to 2.18.368.
Facebook has already released updates that address the vulnerability, but hasn’t provided technical details on it. However, proof of concept code appears to have already been published on GitHub.
No reports on the security issue being exploited in attacks have emerged to date, but the vulnerability became public only weeks after WhatsApp sued Israeli technology firm NSO Group for allegedly abusing WhatsApp to spy on near ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
