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Authored by SangRyol Ryu
McAfee’s Mobile Research Team discovered a software library we’ve named Goldoson, which collects lists of applications installed, and a history of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices information, including nearby GPS locations. Moreover, the library is armed with the functionality to perform ad fraud by clicking advertisements in the background without the user’s consent. The research team has found more than 60 applications containing this third-party malicious library, with more than 100 million downloads confirmed in the ONE store and Google Play app download markets in South Korea. While the, the risk to installers of the apps remains.
McAfee Mobile Security detects this threat as Android/Goldoson and protects customers from this and many other mobile threats. McAfee is a member of the App Defense Alliance focused on protecting users by preventing threats from reaching their devices and improving app quality across the ecosystem. We reported the discovered apps to Google, which took prompt action. reportedly notified the developers that their apps are in violation of Google Play policies and fixes are needed to reach compliance. Some apps were removed from Google Play while others were updated by the official developers. Users are encouraged to update the apps to the latest version to remove the identified threat from their devices.
Top 9 applications previously infected by Goldoson on Google Play
How does it affect users?
The Goldoson library registers the device and gets remote configurations at the same time the app runs. The library name and the remote server domain varies with each application, and it is obfuscated. The name Goldoson is after the first found domain name.
Mutating class names
Remote configuration contains the parameters for each of functionalities and it specifies how often it runs the components. Based on the parameters, the library periodically checks, pulls device information, and sends them to the remote servers. The tags such as ‘ads_enable’ or ‘collect_enable’ indicates each functionality to work or not while other parameters define conditions and availability.
A response of remote configuration
The library includes the ability to load web pages without user awareness. The functionality may be abused to load ads for financial profit. Technically, the library loads HTML code and injects it into a customized and hidden WebView and it produces hidden traffic by visiting the URLs recursively.
Pages loaded without user perception
Collected data is sent out periodically every two days but the cycle is subject to change by the remote configuration. The information contains some sensitive data including the list of installed applications, location history, MAC address of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi nearby, and more. This may allow individuals to be identified when the data is combined. The following tables show the data observed on our test device.
Collected Data sent out in JSON format
Google Play considers the list of installed apps to be personal and sensitive user data and requires a special permission declaration to get it. Users with Android 11 and above are more protected against apps attempting to gather all installed apps. However, even with the recent version of Android, we found that around 10% of the apps with Goldoson have the permission “QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES” that allows them to access app information.
Likewise, with Android 6.0 or higher, users may be asked for permissions such as Location, Storage, or Camera at runtime. If user allows the location permission, the app can access not only GPS data but also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device information nearby. Based on BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), the application can determine the location of the device more accurately than GPS, especially indoors.
A demo of runtime permission request
Where do the apps come from?
The infected applications come from various Android application stores. More than 100 million downloads have been tracked through Google Play. After that, ONE store, Korea’s leading app store, follows with about 8 million installations.
Conclusion
As applications continue to scale in size and leverage additional external libraries, it is important to understand their behavior. App developers should be upfront about libraries used and take precautions to protect users’ information. McAfee Mobile Security products can also help detect threats and protect you from not only malware but also unwanted programs. For more information, visit our McAfee Mobile Security.
Identified Apps and Goldoson Domains
Domains
bhuroid.com
enestcon.com
htyyed.com
discess.net
gadlito.com
gerfane.com
visceun.com
onanico.net
methinno.net
goldoson.net
dalefs.com
openwor.com
thervide.net
soildonutkiel.com
treffaas.com
sorrowdeepkold.com
hjorsjopa.com
dggerys.com
ridinra.com
necktro.com
fuerob.com
phyerh.net
ojiskorp.net
rouperdo.net
tiffyre.net
superdonaldkood.com
soridok2kpop.com
List of Apps and Current Status
Package Name
Application Name
GooglePlay Downloads
GP
Status
com.lottemembers.android
L.POINT with L.PAY
10M+
Updated*
com.Monthly23.SwipeBrickBreaker
Swipe Brick Breaker
10M+
Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneymanagerfree
Money Manager Expense & Budget
10M+
Updated*
com.skt.tmap.ku
TMAP – 대리,주차,전기차 충전,킥보 …
10M+
Updated*
kr.co.lottecinema.lcm
롯데시네마
10M+
Updated*
com.ktmusic.geniemusic
지니뮤직 – genie
10M+
Updated*
com.cultureland.ver2
컬쳐랜드[컬쳐캐쉬]
5M+
Updated*
com.gretech.gomplayerko
GOM Player
5M+
Updated*
com.megabox.mop
메가박스(Megabox)
5M+
Removed**
kr.co.psynet
LIVE Score, Real-Time Score
5M+
Updated*
sixclk.newpiki
Pikicast
5M+
Removed**
com.appsnine.compass
Compass 9: Smart Compass
1M+
Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio
GOM Audio – Music, Sync lyrics
1M+
Updated*
com.gretech.gomtv
곰TV – All About Video
1M+
Updated*
com.guninnuri.guninday
전역일 계산기 디데이 곰신톡–군인 …
1M+
Updated*
com.itemmania.imiapp
아이템매니아 – 게임 아이템 거래 …
1M+
Removed**
com.lotteworld.android.lottemagicpass
LOTTE WORLD Magicpass
1M+
Updated*
com.Monthly23.BounceBrickBreaker
Bounce Brick Breaker
1M+
Removed**
com.Monthly23.InfiniteSlice
Infinite Slice
1M+
Removed**
com.pump.noraebang
나홀로 노래방–쉽게 찾아 이용하는 …
1M+
Updated*
com.somcloud.somnote
SomNote – Beautiful note app
1M+
Removed**
com.whitecrow.metroid
Korea Subway Info : Metroid
1M+
Updated*
kr.co.GoodTVBible
GOODTV다번역성경찬송
1M+
Removed**
kr.co.happymobile.happyscreen
해피스크린 – 해피포인트를 모으 …
1M+
Updated*
kr.co.rinasoft.howuse
UBhind: Mobile Tracker Manager
1M+
Removed**
mafu.driving.free
스피드 운전면허 필기시험 …
1M+
Removed**
com.wtwoo.girlsinger.worldcup
이상형 월드컵
500K+
Updated*
kr.ac.fspmobile.cu
CU편의점택배
500K+
Removed**
com.appsnine.audiorecorder
스마트 녹음기 : 음성 녹음기
100K+
Removed**
com.camera.catmera
캣메라 [순정 무음카메라]
100K+
Removed**
com.cultureland.plus
컬쳐플러스:컬쳐랜드 혜택 더하기 …
100K+
Updated*
com.dkworks.simple_air
창문닫아요(미세/초미세먼지/WHO …
100K+
Removed**
com.lotteworld.ticket.seoulsky
롯데월드타워 서울스카이
100K+
Updated*
com.Monthly23.LevelUpSnakeBall
Snake Ball Lover
100K+
Removed**
com.nmp.playgeto
게토(geto) – PC방 게이머 필수 앱
100K+
Removed**
com.note.app.memorymemo
기억메모 – 심플해서 더 좋은 메모장
100K+
Removed**
com.player.pb.stream
풀빵 : 광고 없는 유튜브 영상 …
100K+
Removed**
com.realbyteapps.moneya
Money Manager (Remove Ads)
100K+
Updated*
com.wishpoke.fanciticon
Inssaticon – Cute Emoticons, K
100K+
Removed**
marifish.elder815.ecloud
클라우드런처
100K+
Updated*
com.dtryx.scinema
작은영화관
50K+
Updated*
com.kcld.ticketoffice
매표소–뮤지컬문화공연 예매& …
50K+
Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.aquarium
롯데월드 아쿠아리움
50K+
Updated*
com.lotteworld.ticket.waterpark
롯데 워터파크
50K+
Updated*
com.skt.skaf.l001mtm091
T map for KT, LGU+
50K+
Removed**
org.howcompany.randomnumber
숫자 뽑기
50K+
Updated*
com.aog.loader
로더(Loader) – 효과음 다운로드 앱
10K+
Removed**
com.gomtv.gomaudio.pro
GOM Audio Plus – Music, Sync l
10K+
Updated*
com.NineGames.SwipeBrickBreaker2
Swipe Brick Breaker 2
10K+
Removed**
com.notice.safehome
안심해 – 안심귀가 프로젝트
10K+
Removed**
kr.thepay.chuncheon
불러봄내 – 춘천시민을 위한 공공 …
10K+
Removed**
com.curation.fantaholic
판타홀릭 – 아이돌 SNS 앱
5K+
Removed**
com.dtryx.cinecube
씨네큐브
5K+
Updated*
com.p2e.tia.tnt
TNT
5K+
Removed**
com.health.bestcare
베스트케어–위험한 전자기장, …
1K+
Removed**
com.ninegames.solitaire
InfinitySolitaire
1K+
Removed**
com.notice.newsafe
안심해 : 안심지도
1K+
Removed**
com.notii.cashnote
노티아이 for 소상공인
1K+
Removed**
com.tdi.dataone
TDI News – 최초 데이터 뉴스 앱 …
1K+
Removed**
com.ting.eyesting
눈팅 – 여자들의 커뮤니티
500+
Removed**
com.ting.tingsearch
팅서치 TingSearch
50+
Removed**
com.celeb.tube.krieshachu
츄스틱 : 크리샤츄 Fantastic
50+
Removed**
com.player.yeonhagoogokka
연하구곡
10+
Removed**
* Updated means that the recent application on Google Play does not contain the malicious library.
** Removed means the application is not available on Google Play as of the time of posting.
The post Goldoson: Privacy-invasive and Clicker Android Adware found in popular apps in South Korea appeared first on McAfee Blog.
