CVE-2020-24721 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in the GAEN (aka Google/Apple Exposure Notifications) protocol through 2020-09-29, as used in COVID-19 applications on Android and iOS. It allows a user to be coerced into proving or disproving an exposure notification due to the persistent state of a private framework.

Understanding CVE-2020-24721

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the GAEN protocol used in COVID-19 applications on Android and iOS, potentially leading to coercion of users regarding exposure notifications.

What is CVE-2020-24721?

The vulnerability in the GAEN protocol allows malicious actors to manipulate users into proving or disproving exposure notifications, exploiting the persistent state of a private framework.

The Impact of CVE-2020-24721

The vulnerability could result in users being coerced into revealing sensitive information or being misled about their exposure status, compromising their privacy and potentially leading to social engineering attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-24721

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in the GAEN protocol enables users to be coerced into proving or disproving exposure notifications due to the persistent state of a private framework.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the persistent state of the private framework to coerce users into revealing or disproving exposure notifications.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against and addressing the CVE vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the affected COVID-19 applications on Android and iOS to the latest versions.
Educate users about potential coercion tactics and advise caution when interacting with exposure notifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust encryption and authentication mechanisms to secure exposure notification data.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Monitor official sources for patches and updates related to the GAEN protocol and COVID-19 applications.
Apply security patches promptly to mitigate the risk of coercion and data leakage.