EvilVideo: The Zero-Day Exploit That Threatens Telegram on Android

ESET researchers have discovered a zero-day exploit targeting Telegram for Android. An exploit called EvilVideo appeared for sale on an underground forum on June 6, 2024. Attackers exploited this vulnerability to distribute malicious files through Telegram channels, groups, and chats, disguising them as media files.

Specialists managed to obtain an example of the exploit, which allowed them to analyze it and report the problem on Telegram on June 26. An update fixing the vulnerability was released on July 11, 2024 in Telegram versions 10.14.5 and later.

The vulnerability allowed attackers to send malicious files that looked like videos in unprotected versions of Telegram for Android (10.14.4 and earlier). The exploit was found on an underground forum, where the vendor demonstrated its work in a public Telegram channel.

This allowed researchers to obtain the malicious file and test it.

The analysis showed that the exploit exploited the ability to create malicious files that were displayed as media previews. While attempting to play such a “video,” Telegram reported that the file could not be played and suggested using an external player.

By clicking the “Open” button, the user was asked to install a malicious application disguised as a player.

Telegram has fixed the vulnerability in version 10.14.5. Media file previews now correctly indicate that the file is an application and not a video.

The exploit was tested on the web and desktop versions of Telegram for Windows, but it did not work. In both cases, the file was recognized as multimedia and posed no threat.

It was also discovered that the exploit vendor offered an encryption service for Android, making malicious files invisible to antiviruses. This service has been advertised on the same underground forum since January 2024.

After discovering the vulnerability and reporting it to Telegram, the problem was fixed. Users are advised to update the application to the latest version to protect themselves from potential threats.

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Manuel Roccon

Ho iniziato la mia carriera occuparmi nella ricerca e nell’implementazioni di soluzioni in campo ICT e nello sviluppo di applicazioni. Al fine di aggiungere aspetti di sicurezza in questi campi, da alcuni anni ho aggiunto competenze inerenti al ramo offensive security (OSCP), occupandomi anche di analisi di sicurezza e pentest in molte organizzazioni.

Aree di competenza: Ethical Hacking, Bug Hunting, Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Security Research, Cybersecurity Communication