Tested with Skype version 3.2.0.6673 (released 1st July 2013) on various
Android devices (Sony Xperia Z, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei Premia 4G
The Skype for Android application appears to have a bug which permits the
Android inbuilt lockscreen (ie. pattern, PIN, password) to be bypassed
relatively easily, if the device is logged into Skype, and the "attacker"
is able to call the "victim" on Skype.
This can be reproduced as follows with 2 Skype accounts, and 2 separate
devices to use with Skype. The target phone is presumed to have an Android
lockscreen configured and in use, and to be locked during the test.
1. Initiate a Skype call to the target device, which will cause it to
wake, ring, and display a prompt on the screen to answer or reject the call
2. Accept the call from the target device using the green answer button
on the screen
3. End the call from the initiating device (ie. the device used to call
the target phone)
4. The target device will end the call, and should display the
lockscreen.
5. Turn off the screen of the target device using the power key, and
turn it on again
6. The lockscreen will now be bypassed. It will remain bypassed until
the device is rebooted
Similar to (ironically enough):
http://arstechnica.com/security/201...een-lock-on-up-to-100-million-android-phones/.
Seems that internet based calling apps might well be "unlucky".
I suggest logging out of skype when not using it, until there is a fix.
Thanks to Turl for originally bringing this to my attention.
Android devices (Sony Xperia Z, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei Premia 4G
The Skype for Android application appears to have a bug which permits the
Android inbuilt lockscreen (ie. pattern, PIN, password) to be bypassed
relatively easily, if the device is logged into Skype, and the "attacker"
is able to call the "victim" on Skype.
This can be reproduced as follows with 2 Skype accounts, and 2 separate
devices to use with Skype. The target phone is presumed to have an Android
lockscreen configured and in use, and to be locked during the test.
1. Initiate a Skype call to the target device, which will cause it to
wake, ring, and display a prompt on the screen to answer or reject the call
2. Accept the call from the target device using the green answer button
on the screen
3. End the call from the initiating device (ie. the device used to call
the target phone)
4. The target device will end the call, and should display the
lockscreen.
5. Turn off the screen of the target device using the power key, and
turn it on again
6. The lockscreen will now be bypassed. It will remain bypassed until
the device is rebooted
Similar to (ironically enough):
http://arstechnica.com/security/201...een-lock-on-up-to-100-million-android-phones/.
Seems that internet based calling apps might well be "unlucky".
I suggest logging out of skype when not using it, until there is a fix.
Thanks to Turl for originally bringing this to my attention.