CVE-2017-8769: whatsapp Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2017-8769 is a medium (CVSS 4.6) Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data vulnerability in whatsapp. EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 10.1% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 18-05-2017
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 05-08-2024
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Facebook WhatsApp Messenger before 2.16.323 for Android uses the SD card for cleartext storage of files (Audio, Documents, Images, Video, and Voice Notes) associated with a chat, even after that chat is deleted. There may be users who expect file deletion to occur upon chat deletion, or who expect encryption (consistent with the application's use of an encrypted database to store chat text). NOTE: the vendor reportedly indicates that they do not "consider these to be security issues" because a user may legitimately want to preserve any file for use "in other apps like the Google Photos gallery" regardless of whether its associated chat is deleted

• CWE-311Missing Encryption of Sensitive DataThe product does not encrypt sensitive or critical information before storage or transmission.