attack-surface.md

Attack Surface Analysis for google/accompanist

Attack Surface: WebView Vulnerabilities (via accompanist-web)

• Description: The accompanist-web module facilitates the integration of WebView components into Jetpack Compose applications. By using this module, applications directly inherit the inherent and significant attack surface associated with WebView. This includes vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), JavaScript injection, and risks arising from insecure WebView configurations.
• Accompanist Contribution: accompanist-web directly enables and simplifies the use of WebView within Compose. Without this module, developers might be less likely to integrate WebViews in this manner, thus Accompanist directly contributes to the application's exposure to WebView related vulnerabilities.
• Example: An application uses accompanist-web to display web content. If this content originates from an untrusted source and the application doesn't implement robust WebView security measures, attackers can exploit XSS vulnerabilities to execute malicious JavaScript within the WebView context. This could lead to stealing user credentials, session hijacking, or even attempts to bridge to native code if JavaScript interfaces are improperly secured.
• Impact: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), JavaScript injection, data theft, session hijacking, potentially remote code execution if JavaScript bridges are insecurely implemented and exploited.
• Risk Severity: Critical
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Developers: Load only trusted content within WebViews. Implement and enforce a strong Content Security Policy (CSP). Sanitize and validate all user-provided input before displaying it in a WebView. Disable unnecessary WebView features such as file access, geolocation, and JavaScript if they are not essential for the application's functionality. Securely configure JavaScript bridges, rigorously validating all data passed between native code and JavaScript. Keep the Android System WebView component updated to patch known vulnerabilities.

Attack Surface: Misuse of Permission Handling (accompanist-permissions & accompanist-permissions-material)

• Description: The accompanist-permissions modules simplify runtime permission requests in Jetpack Compose. However, incorrect or incomplete implementation of permission flows using these modules can lead to situations where permissions are not properly requested, checked, or enforced. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive device resources and user data.
• Accompanist Contribution: While simplifying permission handling, accompanist-permissions relies on developers to correctly use its API. Misunderstanding or misusing the API directly leads to vulnerabilities in permission management. Accompanist provides the tools, but incorrect usage creates the attack surface.
• Example: A developer uses accompanist-permissions to request camera access but fails to properly check the permission result after the user responds to the request dialog. The application might proceed to access the camera even if the user denied permission, leading to unauthorized camera access and privacy violation. Another example is incorrectly handling the "never ask again" scenario, potentially leading to unexpected application behavior and bypass of intended permission restrictions.
• Impact: Unauthorized access to sensitive user data or device resources (camera, microphone, location, contacts, etc.). Privacy violations. Potential for further exploitation depending on the nature of the accessed resource and the application's functionality.
• Risk Severity: High
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Developers: Thoroughly understand the Accompanist Permissions API and the Android runtime permission model. Follow Android best practices for requesting and handling permissions. Always check the permission grant result after requesting permissions and handle both granted and denied scenarios correctly. Properly handle the "never ask again" case and guide users to settings if necessary. Test permission flows rigorously across different Android versions and devices. Request only necessary permissions and for the minimum scope required.

Attack Surface: Dependency Vulnerabilities

• Description: Accompanist, like any software library, depends on other libraries, including Jetpack Compose and potentially other transitive dependencies. Vulnerabilities within these underlying dependencies can indirectly create attack surfaces in applications that utilize Accompanist. If a dependency has a security flaw, applications using Accompanist and that vulnerable dependency become susceptible.
• Accompanist Contribution: By choosing to use Accompanist, developers implicitly include its dependency tree in their application. Accompanist's dependency choices directly influence the set of third-party code included in the application, and thus contribute to the risk of dependency vulnerabilities.
• Example: A critical vulnerability is discovered in a specific version of a Jetpack Compose UI library that Accompanist depends upon. Applications using Accompanist and that vulnerable version of Compose are now indirectly vulnerable. An attacker could potentially exploit this Compose vulnerability through the application using Accompanist.
• Impact: The impact varies greatly depending on the nature of the vulnerability in the dependency. It could range from information disclosure, denial of service, to remote code execution, depending on the affected dependency and the vulnerability itself.
• Risk Severity: High (due to potential for high impact vulnerabilities in dependencies)
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Developers: Actively monitor security advisories for Accompanist and all its dependencies (both direct and transitive). Regularly update Accompanist and all dependencies to the latest versions to incorporate security patches. Utilize dependency management tools that can automatically detect and alert on known vulnerabilities in dependencies. Implement a process for promptly addressing dependency vulnerabilities when they are identified.