TI-2017-06281 Aliases CVE-2017-8769 GHSA-hfjp-gqm3-83qg

Facebook WhatsApp Messenger before 2.16.323 for Android uses the SD card for cleartext…

LOW 21CWE-311Published 2017-05-18 · Updated 2024-08-05

Key facts

Attack vector: Physical
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · None · None
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-311.

Summary

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

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00206 10th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
—	—	all versions	—	No fix listed	CNA

— Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp::::::android::*	before 2.16.323	Vulnerable	WhatsApp

cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:android:*:* Versions before 2.16.323 Vulnerable ·WhatsApp

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-8769
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hfjp-gqm3-83qg

References

Exploit 1

https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2017/05/17/advisory-whatsapp-for-android-privacy-issues-with-handling-of-media-files-cve-2017-8769/

TI-2019-02633 Heap-based buffer overflow in Meta WhatsApp for Android KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2019-13416 Cross-site scripting in Meta WhatsApp Desktop KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
TI-2025-34857 Incorrect authorization in Meta WhatsApp Desktop for Mac KEVCVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.4
TI-2019-08937 Double free in koral-- android-gif-drawable CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
TI-2025-21703 A spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to version 2.2450.6 displayed attachments… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.7
TI-2022-17146 An integer overflow in WhatsApp could result in remote code execution in an established video call. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8

See all 43 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences