CVE-2017-8769

Name: CVE-2017-8769
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2017-05-18T06:29:00.34+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 4.6/10EPSS 0.21%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-8769 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 4.6/10 on the CVSS scale. Facebook WhatsApp Messenger before 2.16.323 for Android uses the SD card for cleartext storage of files (Audio, Documents, Images, Video, and Voice Notes) associated with a chat, even after that chat is deleted. There may be users who expect file deletion to occur upon chat deletion, or who expect encryption (consistent with the application's use of an encrypted database to store chat text). EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Facebook WhatsApp Messenger before 2.16.323 for Android uses the SD card for cleartext storage of files (Audio, Documents, Images, Video, and Voice Notes) associated with a chat, even after that chat is deleted. There may be users who expect file deletion to occur upon chat deletion, or who expect encryption (consistent with the application's use of an encrypted database to store chat text). NOTE: the vendor reportedly indicates that they do not "consider these to be security issues" because a user may legitimately want to preserve any file for use "in other apps like the Google Photos gallery" regardless of whether its associated chat is deleted

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

4.6/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS Probability

0.21%

10.6th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-311

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Whatsapp	Whatsapp	< 2.16.323

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100906Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2017/05/17/advisory-whatsapp-for-android-privacy-issues-with-handling-of-media-files-cve-2017-8769/Exploit, Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100906Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2017/05/17/advisory-whatsapp-for-android-privacy-issues-with-handling-of-media-files-cve-2017-8769/Exploit, Mitigation, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: May 18, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-8769?

How severe is CVE-2017-8769?

CVE-2017-8769 has a CVSS score of 4.6/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.21% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-8769?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-8769?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST