Instagram for Android Vulnerabilities

Overview

A vulnerability in the Android version of Instagram was recently discovered in versions prior to 120.0.0.26.128. In the affected versions, there is a vulnerability in the way Instagram processes images using “Mozjpeg”, an open source tool used to decode JPEG images that are uploaded to its platform.

By exploiting this vulnerability, the attacker can take control of any function or permission Instagram has been granted by the user. For example, the attacker could control the device’s microphone and camera or gain access to other data on the device that Instagram has permission to access. To commence an attack, the threat actor simply needs to send the target a malicious image, which could be through email, SMS, a 3rd-party messaging app, or another social media platform. If the target opens the malicious image in Instagram, the malicious code behind it is executed and the threat actor now has control of the target’s Instagram app.

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Lookout Analysis

In order for this attack to be successful, the victim needs to have a vulnerable version of Instagram installed, save the malicious image to the device, and then open it in Instagram. Since the malicious image can be delivered to the device in so many ways, a threat actor may be able to easily use social engineering to convince the target to upload the image. One particularly large risk is that many users automatically save images from WhatsApp, which takes the attacker one step closer to a successful attempt.

Once the attacker has control of Instagram’s functionality, they could pose a massive security risk to the individual as well as the organization they work for if they choose to take control of the microphone and access data such as photos and contacts.