CVE-2018-3986 Information disclosure in Telegram

Medium 4.2 Published 3 Jan 2019 Updated 5 Aug 2024

Deleted secret chat photos remain accessible to other apps on the device, allowing local attackers to read sensitive images.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: An administrator
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2018-3986?

CVE-2018-3986 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Telegram, published on 3 Jan 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in the "Secret Chats" functionality of the Telegram Android messaging application version 4.9.0. The "Secret Chats" functionality allows a user to delete all traces of a chat, either by using a time trigger or by direct request. There is a bug in this functionality that leaves behind photos taken and shared on the secret chats, even after the chats are deleted. These photos will be stored in the device and accessible to all applications installed on the Android device.

Weakness: CWE-200

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-3986?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Telegram Telegram.

How do I fix CVE-2018-3986?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-3986 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Is CVE-2018-3986 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3986 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-jv2p-v47w-2xxm.