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Insecure service configuration - usesCleartextTraffic

Description​

The application has android:usesCleartextTraffic set to true, which allows it to access resources that do not use encryption, a situation that could be exploited by an attacker to perform MitM attacks and compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the application.

Impact​

  • Obtain sensitive information through MitM attacks.
  • Modify intercepted information with the aim of deceiving an application user.

Recommendation​

The android:usesCleartextTraffic must be set to false.

Threat​

Attacker without credentials from the same network segment as an application user.

Expected Remediation Time​

⌚ 15 minutes.

Score​

Default score using CVSS 3.1. It may change depending on the context of the vulnerability.

Base​

  • Attack vector: A
  • Attack complexity: H
  • Privileges required: N
  • User interaction: R
  • Scope: U
  • Confidentiality: L
  • Integrity: L
  • Availability: N

Temporal​

  • Exploit code madurity: P
  • Remediation level: O
  • Report confidence: C

Result​

  • Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
  • Score:
    • Base: 3.7
    • Temporal: 3.4
  • Severity:
    • Base: Low
    • Temporal: Low

Code Examples​

Compliant code​

The application manifest has usesCleartextTraffic set to false

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:sharedUserId="android.uid.system" android:versionCode="4" android:versionName="1.0" android:usesCleartextTraffic= "False" package="com.android.zerosms">
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
    <application android:label="@7F040001" android:icon="@7F020002">
        <provider
          android:authorities="com.andriod.databasetest.contentprovider"
          android:name=".db.ContentProviderDb"
          android:exported="false"
          android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        </provider>
    </application>
</manifest>

Non compliant code​

The application manifest has usesCleartextTraffic set to true

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:sharedUserId="android.uid.system" android:versionCode="4" android:versionName="1.0" android:usesCleartextTraffic= "True" package="com.android.zerosms">
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
    <application android:label="@7F040001" android:icon="@7F020002">
        <provider
          android:authorities="com.andriod.databasetest.contentprovider"
          android:name=".db.ContentProviderDb"
          android:exported="true"
          android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        </provider>
    </application>
</manifest>

Requirements​

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