shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Technology News > WhatsApp fixes bug that let hackers break into video calls

WhatsApp 'fixes' bug that let hackers break into video calls

Updated on: 10 October,2018 09:06 PM IST  |  San Francisco
IANS |

Facebook-owned WhatsApp, which has over 1.5 billion users, fixed the vulnerability this week

WhatsApp 'fixes' bug that let hackers break into video calls

Representational Image

WhatsApp has understood to have fixed a bug in its Android and iOS mobile app that allowed the hackers to let the app crash during incoming video calls.


According to a report in ZDNet on Wednesday, Facebook-owned WhatsApp, which has over 1.5 billion users, fixed the vulnerability this week. It is yet to be known how many users were affected.


The company is yet to issue a statement on this.


Natalie Silvanovich, a security researcher with Google's Project Zero security research team, discovered the bug in WhatsApp video call.

"Heap corruption can occur when the WhatsApp mobile application receives a malformed RTP packet," Silvanovich said in a bug report.

"This issue can occur when a WhatsApp user accepts a call from a malicious peer," she added.

Memory corruption bug was found in WhatsApp's "non-WebRTC" video conferencing implementation.

"Last week, Israel's cyber-intelligence agency sent out an alert about a new hacking technique that relied on poorly secured voicemail inboxes to hijack WhatsApp accounts from their legitimate owners," said the report.

In the biggest-ever security breach after Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook last month admitted that hackers broke into nearly 50 million users' accounts by stealing their "access tokens" or digital keys.

Facebook security team discovered the security issue on September 25 which was later fixed.

In the Cambridge Analytica scandal, data of nearly 87 million people was breached upon.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Except for the change in the headline, the story has been provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, without any verification or editing from our side. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK