A stack-based buffer overflow bug can be exploited by sending a specially crafted video file to a WhatsApp user.

Dark Reading Staff, Dark Reading

November 18, 2019

1 Min Read

A severe vulnerability in the WhatsApp messenger could enable attackers to achieve remote code execution by sending target users a specially crafted MP4 video file, Facebook reports.

The stack-based buffer overflow bug (CVE-2019-11931) exists in the way WhatsApp parses the elementary stream metadata of MP4 files. If successfully exploited, it could result in a denial-of-service or remote code execution attack, the company said in a disclosure. Users can update to a patched version of the software. It's unclear whether the flaw has been exploited in the wild.

This vulnerability affects a range of corporate and consumer devices. Affected versions include:

  • Android versions prior to 2.19.274

  • Business for Android versions prior to 2.19.104

  • iOS versions prior to 2.19.100

  • Business for iOS versions prior to 2.19.100

  • Enterprise Client versions prior to 2.25.3

  • Windows Phone versions before and including 2.18.368

Read more details here.

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Dark Reading Staff

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