CVE-2024-21633 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2024-21633 was published on January 3, 2024, by GitHub_M. It involves an arbitrary file write on decoding vulnerability in Apktool version 2.9.1 and prior.

Understanding CVE-2024-21633

This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate resource files' output path in Apktool, potentially leading to placing files at a desired location on the system.

What is CVE-2024-21633?

In CVE-2024-21633, the Apktool tool, used for reverse engineering Android APK files, incorrectly infers resource files' output path based on their names, which can be exploited by attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2024-21633

The impact of this CVE is rated as high, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability being compromised due to the potential for unauthorized file manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-21633

This section covers the specific technical details regarding the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from Apktool inferring resource files' output path based on their names, allowing attackers to place files at a desired location on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Apktool versions up to and including 2.9.1.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability in environments where they can write/overwrite any file that a user has write access to, given they know the user's name or the current working directory is under the user's folder.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-21633, certain steps need to be taken by users and administrators.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update their Apktool to a version that contains the patch for this vulnerability, such as the commit code d348c43b24a9de350ff6e5bd610545a10c1fc712.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining good security practices, such as restricting write access to sensitive files and folders, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating software and applying patches issued by the vendor is crucial in staying protected against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-21633. Regularly monitoring security advisories from Apktool is recommended to stay informed about any future vulnerabilities and updates.