Configuration Management / Abuse of Mobile Network Connection

Description

Abuse of Mobile Network Connection is a configuration management vulnerability, which can occur in Android, iOS, and Mobile App applications. According to the CWE directory, this vulnerability occurs when the application connects to a mobile network to access services, but the data is not properly protected, allowing an attacker to gain access to the data or take control of the services. The OWASP Testing Guide also states that an attacker can abuse the mobile network connection by sniffing the traffic or injecting malicious traffic to gain access to the data or services.

Risk

Due to insufficient control of the mobile network connection, an attacker can gain access to sensitive data or take control of the services. As a result, the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data and services can be compromised. Such an attack can have a major impact on the security of the connected system, as the attacker can use the access to steal or manipulate data, or to launch further attacks. Risk assessment should be done to identify potential weaknesses and prioritize mitigation efforts.

Solution

The solution to this vulnerability is to secure the mobile network connection by implementing appropriate authentication mechanisms, encryption, and access control. The authentication should be based on strong passwords or multi-factor authentication, and the encryption should use industry-standard protocols. Access control should be implemented to ensure that only authenticated and authorized users can access the network.

Example

An example of the Abuse of Mobile Network Connection vulnerability is CVE-2019-15020, which is a vulnerability that affects the Android operating system. The vulnerability occurs when an application fails to properly validate a mobile network connection, allowing an attacker to access the application's data and services.