Insecure transmission of data in Android applications developed with Adobe AIR [CVE-2016-6936]

[research () nightwatchcybersecurity com]

Original at:
https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2016/09/14/advisory-insecure-transmission-of-data-in-android-applications-developed-with-adobe-air-cve-2016-6936/

Summary

Android applications developed with Adobe AIR send data back to Adobe servers without HTTPS while running. This can 
allow an attacker to compromise the privacy of the applications’ users. This has been fixed in Adobe AIR SDK release 
v23.0.0.257.

Details

Adobe AIR is a developer product which allows the same application code to be compiled and run across multiple desktop 
and mobile platforms. While monitoring network traffic during testing of several Android applications we observed 
network traffic over HTTP without the use of SSL going to several Adobe servers including the following:

- airdownload2.adobe.com
- mobiledl.adobe.com

Because encryption is not used, this would allow a network-level attacker to observe the traffic and compromise the 
privacy of the applications’ users.

This affects applications compiled with the Adobe AIR SDK versions 22.0.0.153 and earlier.

Vendor Response

Adobe has released a fix for this issue on September 13th, 2016 in Adobe AIR SDK v23.0.0.257. Developers should update 
and rebuild their application using the latest SDK.

References

Adobe Security Bulletin: ASPB16-31
CVE: CVE-2016-6936

Timeline

2016-06-15: Report submitted to Adobe’s HackerOne program
2016-06-16: Report out of scope for this program, directed to Adobe’s PSIRT
2016-06-16: Submitted via email to Adobe’s PSIRT
2016-06-17: Reply received from PSIRT and a ticket number is assigned
2016-09-09: Response received from the vendor that the fix will be released next week
2016-09-13: Fix released
2016-09-14: Public disclosure