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WhatsApp today disclosed a vulnerability that allowed hackers to remotely exploit a bug in the app's audio call system to access sensitive information on an iPhone or Android device.
According to The New York Times, attackers were able to insert malicious code into WhatsApp, allowing them to steal data, regardless of whether or not a WhatsApp phone call was answered.
Security researchers said that the spyware that took advantage of this flaw featured characteristics of the Pegasus spyware from NSO Group, which is normally licensed to governments who purchase the spyware for installing on the devices of individuals who are the target of an investigation.
Description:A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of SRTCP packets sent to a target phone number.
Affected Versions: The issue affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15.
The vulnerability was described by WhatsApp as "nontrivial to deploy, limiting it to advanced and highly motivated actors," but it's not clear how long the security flaw was available nor how many people were affected. It was used to target a London lawyer who has been involved in lawsuits against the NSO Group, and security researchers believe others could have been targeted as well.
WhatsApp engineers "worked around the clock" to address the vulnerability, and made a patch available on Monday. The initial vulnerability was discovered ten days ago after WhatsApp found abnormal voice calling activity following complaints from the aforementioned lawyer. WhatsApp says that it has notified the Department of Justice and a "number of human rights organizations" about the issue.
Update: Reader comments suggested that some of the wording in this article was confusing or misleading, so we have updated it to make sure the details of the vulnerability are clear. Specifically, this issue impacted WhatsApp, not the iOS operating system.
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Top Rated Comments
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Remember all the comments the other day about WhatsApp being more secure than iMessage?
So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug:rolleyes:
So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug
Nah, not on iOS, it's so private and secure things like this or the carrier tracking situation could never be an iPhone issue. Yeah Privacy Timmy!
Two ridiculous comments. So if iOS is the problem, how come the fix was done via a patch to the WhatsApp App itself and also a server side update to WhatsApp? How come there's no updates for iOS or Android (since, you know, this exploit also worked with WhatsApp on Android) to fix this issue?NVM, because Apple.
How did this vulnerability make it past the App Store review process? Do app reviewers take bribes to allow spy trash like this into apps?
This exploit is sideloaded and delivered to WhatsApp outside of the App Store.The App Store itself does not vet apps for vulnerabilities (that would be impossible), but it does vet them for these types of warez directly.
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So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug
I just searched a little and it looks like this exploit is scoped solely to WhatsApp's VOIP stack (and within the sandbox) and whatever WhatsApp had permissions for. It will access all of your photos, if you've allowed WhatsApp access, for example.I can't find any evidence of any additional system exploiting, yet. But this seems why it's able to affect such a wide range of systems - it is spyware within WhatsApp itself.
not as bad as the FaceTime bug/exploit.
I’d say it’s arguably worse as they could remote install software to your phone which could do any number of things including scraping all of your information stored on the phone.Anyone else find it extremely disturbing Israelis spying?
Israel makes loads of telecoms equipment for Europe and maybe even the USA under the name ECI. Now I don't use WhatsApp, never have but I do find it ironic that Huawei are being banned left right and centre yet ECI based equipment isn't, and now WhatsApp gets caught being a bad actor. I guess it depends on how friendly you are with your spying counterparts and what financial arrangements you have in place with them, as I'm sure every country knows exactly who is spying on who globally. It's good that iOS is so secure though, as Tim says what happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone, oh hang on...Luckily they don’t make phones.