CVE-2017-17436 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the software used in Vaultek Gun Safe VT20i products, affecting the communication between the Android application and the safe.

Understanding CVE-2017-17436

This CVE highlights a critical encryption flaw in the communication channel between the Vaultek Gun Safe VT20i Android application and the safe, potentially exposing the passcode.

What is CVE-2017-17436?

The vulnerability arises from the lack of encryption in the communication between the Android application and the safe, contrary to the advertised claims of secure encryption.

The Impact of CVE-2017-17436

The inaccurate encryption claims and the absence of proper encryption can allow malicious individuals to intercept the communication and potentially obtain the passcode.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-17436

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The communication between the Android application and the Vaultek Gun Safe VT20i lacks encryption, despite marketing claims of secure encryption using AES256 bit encryption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Vaultek Gun Safe VT20i
Vendor: Vaultek
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The lack of encryption in the communication channel allows for interception of data, potentially exposing the passcode.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid transmitting sensitive information via the Android application until a patch is available.
Regularly check for updates from the vendor to address the encryption issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement additional encryption measures at the application level to secure communications.
Educate users on the risks of unencrypted communication channels.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Vaultek to address the encryption vulnerability.