Grandstream Wave 1.0.1.26 Update Redirection

`CVE-2016-1520: GrandStream Android VoIP App Update Redirection  
==============================================================  
  
Affected app: [Grandstream Wave][GSWAVE] version 1.0.1.26 (and probably earlier)  
  
Classification:  
  
* [CWE-300 Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint][CWE300]  
* [CWE-319 Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information][CWE319]  
* CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score 6.4)  
  
## Summary  
  
The Grandstream Wave app periodically queries the Grandstream server for app  
updates. If a new update is found, the app shows a notification to the user  
that either opens the app's Google Play page or auto-downloads the APK file  
and opens it for installation.  
  
The update information is downloaded over an insecure connection from  
`media.ipvideotalk.com` and contains the version code and the update URL.  
An active attacker can redirect this request and trick the user into  
downloading a malicious update package. Users that have "Unknown Sources"  
enabled in the Android security preferences, or enable it upon request, can be  
tricked into installing a malicious application that disguises itself as a  
Wave update.  
  
## Details  
  
The Grandstream Wave app downloads an update info XML on each app start. The  
address is hardcoded in the application properties as follows:  
  
updateinfo_serverurl=http://media.ipvideotalk.com/upgrade/updateinfo.xml  
  
This file was last updated in March 2015 and contains the following outdated  
information:  
  
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>   
<info>   
<version>1.0.1.6</version>  
<versioncode>69</versioncode>   
<updateurl>market://details?id=com.softphone</updateurl>   
<description>检测到最新版本，请及时更新！</description>   
</info>  
  
The version available via Google Play at time of this writing is 1.0.1.26  
(versioncode 89), therefore no update dialog will be shown by the application.  
  
Internally, the XML is processed by the app as follows:  
  
1. Check if the received `versioncode` is higher than the app's.  
2. Prompt the user to install the update.  
3. If the `updateurl` contains `"market://details"`, open the Google Play page  
for the app's package (this is secure, the URL from the XML is not used).  
4. Otherwise, download the file linked to by `updateurl` to  
`/sdcard/GSWave/upgrade/GSWave.apk` and open an installation  
dialog.  
5. If the user has "Unknown Sources" disabled, a warning dialog will be shown  
that forwards the user to the Android Security Preferences. If  
the user taps "Settings" and enables "Unknown Sources", the next update  
attempt will continue to step 6.  
6. If "Unknown Sources" are allowed, Android will proceed with the app  
installation. For a normal user it is almost impossible to distinguish an  
official upgrade from a disguised malicious app.  
  
As from the user's perspective this is an update to a trustworthy app, which  
was initiated by the app itself, there is no reason to mistrust the  
installation and to question the permissions asked by the installer.  
  
## Impact  
  
With a one-time Man-in-the-Middle attack, it is possible to trick the user into  
installing a malicious Android application with permissions to make phone  
calls, access the contact data, recording audio and video and much more. Such  
an application can perform extensive surveillance of the user afterwards.  
  
## Mitigation  
  
It is not possible to disable update checks in the Wave application. Therefore,  
no technical mitigation mechanisms are possible. However, the following steps  
can be undertaken to reduce risk:  
  
* Do not launch the Wave app on untrusted networks  
* Use an automatic VPN connection to a trusted network  
* Disable "Unknown Sources" in the Android security settings  
* Inform the users not to install apps manually  
  
## Timeline  
  
* 2015-11-25 Discovery of the issue  
* 2015-11-25 Requested CVE number  
* 2015-12-01 Notification of vendor  
* 2016-01-20 CVE number assigned  
* 2016-03-16 Public disclosure  
  
## Contact  
  
Please contact Dr. Georg Lukas with any further questions regarding this  
vulnerability.  
  
PDF version with images: http://rt-solutions.de/images/PDFs/Veroeffentlichungen/CVE-2016-1520-app-update-redirection.pdf  
[GSWAVE]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.softphone  
[CWE300]: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/300.html  
[CWE319]: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/319.html  
  
--   
Dr.-Ing. Georg Lukas  
rt-solutions.de GmbH  
Oberländer Ufer 190a  
D-50968 Köln  
  
Tel. : (+49)221 93724 16  
Fax : (+49)221 93724 50  
Mobil: (+49)179 4176591  
Web : www.rt-solutions.de  
rt-solutions.de  
experts you can trust.  
  
Sitz der Gesellschaft: Köln  
Eingetragen beim Amtsgericht Köln: HRB 52645  
Geschäftsführer: Prof. Dr. Ralf Schumann, Dr. Stefan Schemmer  
  
  
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