CVE-2017-9821

The National Payments Corporation of India BHIM application 1.3 for Android relies on three hardcoded strings (AK-NPCIMB, IM-NPCIBM, and VK-NPCIBM) for SMS…

published August 24, 2018

CVSS
—
EPSS
1%
Percentile
72.7
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ Hardcoded strings in BHIM app's SMS validation are a security red flag! An attacker could simply reuse these strings to bypass authentication. 🔥 Think of it like a hotel that uses the same room number for every guest check-in — anyone with that info can slide right in without a key! If exploited, an attacker could access user accounts illicitly, leading to unauthorized transactions or sensitive data leaks. This vulnerability opens a door that should absolutely remain closed!

Put simply

Think of it like a hotel that uses the same room number for every guest check-in — anyone with that info can slide right in without a key! The BHIM application (version 1.3) for Android relies on three hardcoded SMS validation strings, making it trivial for attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to user accounts.

What to do

If exploited, an attacker could access user accounts illicitly, leading to unauthorized transactions or sensitive data leaks. This vulnerability opens a door that should absolutely remain closed! Developers should update the app to ensure SMS validation strings are not hardcoded and implement stronger authentication mechanisms. Regularly review your code for similar vulnerabilities to safeguard user data. This isn't a massive overhaul! By taking these steps, you'll strengthen your security and keep your users safe. You've got this! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01432 · 72.7th percentile
Published
2018-08-24T21:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 24 AUG 21:00Z
    The National Payments Corporation of India BHIM application 1.3 for Android relies on three hardcoded strings (AK-NPCIMB, IM-NPCIBM, and VK-NPCIBM) for SMS…
    cvelistv5