Incident: TikTok Security Vulnerabilities Expose User Data and Accounts

Published Date: 2020-01-08

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident involving TikTok's vulnerabilities happened in November 2019 [Article 94180]. 2. The vulnerabilities were discovered by Check Point on November 20, and TikTok fixed them by December 15, 2019 [Article 103806].
System 1. TikTok software system [94622, 94180, 103806] 2. TikTok messaging system [94622, 94180, 103806] 3. TikTok website [94622, 94180, 103806]
Responsible Organization 1. Security researchers from Check Point identified the software flaws in TikTok that left users vulnerable to hackers, leading to the software failure incident [94622, 94180, 103806].
Impacted Organization 1. TikTok users were impacted by the software failure incident as the vulnerabilities could have allowed hackers to manipulate user data, take over accounts, upload or delete videos, and access private information [94622, 94180, 103806]. 2. The US Army and Navy also were impacted as they banned personnel from having the TikTok app on government-issued smartphones due to security concerns [94180, 103806].
Software Causes 1. Software flaws in TikTok that allowed hackers to send legitimate-looking text messages with links to malicious software, publish or delete videos, make private videos public, and access personal user information [94622, 94180, 103806]. 2. Vulnerabilities in TikTok's systems that allowed attackers to manipulate user data, take control of accounts, and retrieve personal information from user accounts [94622, 94180, 103806]. 3. Weaknesses in TikTok's messaging system that allowed attackers to send messages appearing to come from TikTok, leading to account takeover, content manipulation, and privacy breaches [103806].
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of security validation cycle and scrutiny on the level of security and privacy provided by TikTok [Article 94180]. 2. Concerns and suspicions regarding Chinese technology and potential ties to the Chinese government [Article 103806].
Impacts 1. The software flaws in TikTok allowed hackers to potentially send legitimate-looking text messages with links to malicious software, publish or delete videos, make private videos public, and access personal user information from accounts [94622, 94180, 103806]. 2. The vulnerabilities could have led to attackers taking control of TikTok accounts, manipulating user data, and revealing personal information [94622, 94180, 103806]. 3. The flaws in TikTok's systems could have allowed attackers to send messages with malicious links, manipulate accounts, and retrieve personal information from user accounts [94622, 94180, 103806]. 4. The vulnerabilities discovered by Check Point researchers raised concerns about the security and privacy provided by TikTok, potentially impacting user trust and confidence in the platform [94622, 94180, 103806].
Preventions 1. Implementing a robust security validation cycle to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited [94180, 103806]. 2. Encouraging responsible security researchers to privately disclose zero-day vulnerabilities to the company for prompt resolution [94622, 94180, 103806]. 3. Conducting thorough security assessments and testing of the software to identify and fix core system vulnerabilities [103806]. 4. Enhancing security measures to prevent unauthorized access, manipulation of user accounts, and exposure of personal data [94622, 94180, 103806]. 5. Regularly updating and patching the software to address known vulnerabilities and security weaknesses [94180, 103806].
Fixes 1. The vulnerabilities in TikTok's software could be fixed by patching the identified flaws, which the company has already done in response to the research findings [94622, 94180, 103806]. 2. TikTok could enhance its security validation cycle to prevent future vulnerabilities from being exploited [94180]. 3. Encouraging responsible security researchers to privately disclose zero-day vulnerabilities can help identify and address potential security holes before they are exploited [94622, 94180, 103806]. 4. Implementing stricter security measures and conducting regular security audits can help prevent similar incidents in the future [94622, 94180, 103806].
References 1. Check Point - cybersecurity firm that identified the software flaws in TikTok [94622, 94180, 103806] 2. TikTok - the social video app that was affected by the vulnerabilities [94622, 94180, 103806] 3. Luke Deshotels - a member of TikTok's security team who commented on the vulnerabilities [94180, 103806] 4. Oded Vanunu - Check Point's head of product vulnerability research who discussed the vulnerabilities in TikTok [94622, 94180, 103806] 5. Department of Homeland Security in the United States - received a summary of findings from Check Point regarding the vulnerabilities in TikTok [103806] 6. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States - investigating ByteDance's acquisition of Musical.ly and its implications for TikTok's security [103806]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in TikTok's app has happened again within the same organization. Check Point researchers identified a series of software flaws in the TikTok app that could have allowed hackers to carry out various attacks on users, such as sending malicious links, publishing or deleting videos, making private videos public, and accessing personal user information [94622, 94180, 103806]. (b) The software failure incident related to vulnerabilities in social media apps has also occurred at other organizations or with their products and services. The vulnerabilities found in TikTok highlight the potential security concerns in social media platforms and the risks associated with flaws in such apps that can be exploited by hackers [94622, 94180, 103806].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The articles provide information about a software failure incident related to the design phase. Security researchers identified a series of software flaws in the TikTok app that opened the door to various attacks on users, such as sending legitimate-looking text messages with links to malicious software, publishing or deleting videos, making private videos public, and accessing personal user information [94622, 94180, 103806]. (b) The articles also mention a software failure incident related to the operation phase. The vulnerabilities discovered in TikTok could have allowed attackers to manipulate user data, reveal personal information, take control of user accounts, upload videos, and access private videos through the operation of the app [94622, 94180, 103806].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: - The software failure incident in TikTok was due to software flaws within the system that were identified by security researchers [94622, 94180, 103806]. - Check Point researchers found vulnerabilities in TikTok's systems that allowed attackers to manipulate user data, send malicious links, take over accounts, and access private information [94622, 94180, 103806]. - The vulnerabilities included flaws in TikTok's messaging system, website, and authentication mechanisms that could be exploited by attackers [94622, 94180, 103806]. - TikTok was responsive to the disclosures and patched the vulnerabilities within weeks after being informed by the researchers [94622, 94180, 103806]. (b) outside_system: - The software failure incident in TikTok was not explicitly attributed to factors originating from outside the system in the provided articles.
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The software failure incident in TikTok was due to a series of software flaws identified by security researchers, which opened the door to various attacks on users [94622, 94180, 103806]. - The vulnerabilities in TikTok allowed attackers to send legitimate-looking text messages with links to malicious software, manipulate accounts, upload or delete videos, access personal user information, and more [94622, 94180, 103806]. - Check Point researchers found weaknesses in TikTok's systems that allowed attackers to manipulate user data and reveal personal information through messages carrying malicious links [103806]. - The vulnerabilities were core to TikTok's systems and were patched by the company after being disclosed by the researchers [103806]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The vulnerabilities in TikTok were discovered by security researchers from Check Point, who disclosed the bugs to TikTok, leading to the company patching all of them on iOS and Android by the end of December [94180]. - TikTok was responsive about the disclosures and patched the issues within weeks after being informed by the researchers [94180]. - TikTok encouraged responsible security researchers to privately disclose zero-day vulnerabilities to them, indicating a proactive approach to addressing security issues [94180]. - The vulnerabilities found in TikTok were a result of weaknesses in the app's systems, indicating potential oversight in security measures during the development and maintenance of the software [103806].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The articles do not provide information about the software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. (b) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to software flaws in the TikTok app that left users vulnerable to hackers. Security researchers identified a series of software flaws that could have allowed attackers to send malicious links via text messages, publish or delete videos, access personal user information, and perform various attacks on user accounts [94622, 94180, 103806]. These vulnerabilities were core to TikTok's systems and were patched by the company after being disclosed by the researchers [94622, 94180, 103806].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident related to TikTok's vulnerabilities can be categorized as malicious. Security researchers identified a series of software flaws in TikTok that could have allowed hackers to send legitimate-looking text messages with links to malicious software, publish or delete videos, access personal user information, and perform various attacks on users [94622, 94180, 103806]. These vulnerabilities were considered critical as they could have been exploited by attackers to manipulate user data, take control of accounts, and expose personal information, indicating a malicious intent to harm the system and its users.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The intent of the software failure incident: - The software failure incident involving TikTok was primarily due to poor decisions made in the development and security practices of the app. Security researchers identified a series of software flaws in TikTok that opened the door to a range of attacks on users, including sending malicious links via text messages, publishing or deleting videos, accessing personal user information, and more [94622, 94180, 103806]. - The vulnerabilities found in TikTok's systems were core to its operations, indicating that there were fundamental flaws in the design and implementation of the app's security measures [103806]. - The vulnerabilities allowed attackers to manipulate user data, take control of accounts, and access private information, highlighting significant lapses in security protocols [103806]. - TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny over its data practices and content policies, raising concerns about the security and privacy of user data [103806]. - The incident also shed light on the lack of focus on security in TikTok's development process, with experts noting that the company may have prioritized growth and new features over robust security measures [103806].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the articles. Security researchers identified a series of software flaws in the TikTok app that could have left users vulnerable to various attacks, including sending malicious links, publishing or deleting videos, accessing personal user information, and more [94622, 94180, 103806]. These vulnerabilities were core to TikTok's systems, indicating a lack of professional competence in ensuring robust security measures during the app's development [103806]. The fact that these vulnerabilities were present in both the iOS and Android versions of the app further highlights potential shortcomings in the development process [94180]. (b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also apparent in the articles. The vulnerabilities discovered in TikTok were not intentional but rather weaknesses in the app's systems that could have been exploited by attackers [103806]. The Check Point researchers found flaws that allowed attackers to manipulate user data and reveal personal information, indicating unintentional vulnerabilities in the software [103806]. Additionally, the researchers noted that TikTok offers a feature on its website for users to enter their phone numbers and receive an SMS message with a link to download the app. While analyzing this mechanism, they found that they could remotely manipulate the text and download link, suggesting accidental vulnerabilities in the app's functionality [94180].
Duration permanent, temporary (a) The articles describe software vulnerabilities in the TikTok app that allowed hackers to manipulate user data, take control of accounts, send malicious links, and access personal information. These vulnerabilities were identified by security researchers from Check Point and were patched by TikTok in December [94622, 94180, 103806]. The vulnerabilities were considered permanent as they were core to TikTok's systems and could have been exploited by attackers to compromise user accounts and data permanently. (b) The software failure incident was temporary in the sense that the vulnerabilities existed for a certain period before being discovered and patched. The vulnerabilities were present until the security researchers disclosed them to TikTok in late November, and TikTok fixed all the identified vulnerabilities by December 15 [94622, 94180, 103806]. Once the vulnerabilities were patched, the immediate security concerns related to those specific vulnerabilities were addressed, making the incident temporary in nature.
Behaviour omission, value, other (a) crash: The articles do not mention any instances of the TikTok software crashing and losing its state. (b) omission: The software failure incident in TikTok involved vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to manipulate user data, take over accounts, add or delete videos, and expose private information [94622, 94180, 103806]. (c) timing: The articles do not mention any instances of the TikTok software performing its intended functions too late or too early. (d) value: The software failure incident in TikTok involved vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to perform functions incorrectly, such as uploading videos, deleting videos, making private videos public, and accessing personal user information [94622, 94180, 103806]. (e) byzantine: The software failure incident in TikTok did not involve inconsistent responses or interactions. (f) other: The software failure incident in TikTok involved vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to send malicious links, take control of accounts, and manipulate user data through various means [94622, 94180, 103806].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property (d) property: People's material goods, money, or data was impacted due to the software failure The software failure incident in TikTok, as reported by multiple articles [94622, 94180, 103806], involved serious vulnerabilities that could have allowed hackers to manipulate user data and reveal personal information. The weaknesses in the app could have enabled attackers to take control of user accounts, upload or delete videos, and access private data such as names and birth dates. These vulnerabilities posed a direct threat to the security and privacy of TikTok users' personal information and account details, indicating a potential impact on people's property in terms of data security and privacy.
Domain information, entertainment (a) The software failure incident related to the production and distribution of information is in the entertainment industry. The failed system in this case is TikTok, a popular video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short videos with their followers [94622, 94180, 103806]. (j) The software failure incident related to the health industry is not applicable in this case. (m) The failed system, TikTok, does not fall under any of the specified industries (a to l) and can be categorized as "other."

Sources

Back to List