CVE-2021-43849 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about the DoS vulnerability in cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio prior to 5.0.1, allowing attackers to crash the app and prevent its normal operation. Find mitigation steps and how to prevent such attacks.
cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio prior to version 5.0.1 allows for a Denial of Service attack due to a vulnerability in the exported activity. Attackers can crash the app and disrupt its normal functioning.
Understanding CVE-2021-43849
What is CVE-2021-43849?
cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio is a plugin providing fingerprint API access on Android 6+ and iOS. Versions below 5.0.1 contain a vulnerability allowing a third-party app to crash the app indefinitely.
The Impact of CVE-2021-43849
The vulnerability exposes a DoS risk, where malicious apps can crash the victim's app, rendering it unusable.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-43849
Vulnerability Description
cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio versions prior to 5.0.1 export an activity that can crash due to invalid data, allowing third-party apps to abuse it.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: cordova-plugin-fingerprint-aio
- Vendor: NiklasMerz
- Versions Affected: < 5.0.1
Exploitation Mechanism
By repeatedly calling the vulnerable activity with invalid data, an attacker can disrupt the app and prevent its normal operation.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to version 5.0.1 to mitigate the vulnerability
- Set the attribute android:exported in plugin.xml to false for older versions
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update plugins and dependencies
- Monitor and restrict third-party interactions within the app
Patching and Updates
- Patch to version 5.0.1 or higher to eliminate the vulnerability