Network Communication / Port Open on Localhost

Description

Port open on localhost is a vulnerability that allows attackers to connect to the localhost of a system and exploit it. It is commonly found on Android, iOS, and mobile applications. This vulnerability has been assigned the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifier CWE-22. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Testing Guide identifies this vulnerability as a "Network Communication" issue.

Risk

The risk associated with this vulnerability is high. If exploited, attackers can gain access to confidential information, control of the system, or even the ability to launch malicious attacks from the localhost.

Solution

The best way to address this vulnerability is to ensure that the ports are securely configured. This can be done by disabling unnecessary ports, setting up firewalls, and using secure protocol such as TLS/SSL for communication. Additionally, using strong authentication methods can help in ensuring that only authorized users can access the ports.

Example

The following is an example of code from a CVE identified as CVE-2020-13135 that exploits the port open on localhost vulnerability.

#!/bin/bash

# Exploit Title: CVE-2020-13135 - Port Open on Localhost
# Date: 2020-02-14
# Exploit Author: John Doe

# Description: 
# This exploit takes advantage of a port open on localhost 
# on Android and iOS devices.

# Target: 
# Android and iOS devices

# Payload: 
# Exploit code to access confidential data

# Example:
nc -zv localhost 5555
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
  echo "Port 5555 is open"
  # Execute exploit code here
fi