CVE-2026-5471 Overview
A hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability has been identified in the Investory Toy Planet Trouble App for Android, affecting versions up to 1.5.5. The vulnerability exists within the assets/google-services-desktop.json file of the app.investory.toyfactory component, where the current_key argument contains a hard-coded cryptographic key. This security weakness allows local attackers to potentially access sensitive cryptographic material embedded within the application.
Critical Impact
Hard-coded cryptographic keys in the application's Firebase configuration file can be extracted by local attackers, potentially enabling unauthorized access to backend services and sensitive data.
Affected Products
- Investory Toy Planet Trouble App up to version 1.5.5 on Android
- app.investory.toyfactory component
- assets/google-services-desktop.json configuration file
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-03 - CVE CVE-2026-5471 published to NVD
- 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-5471
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability falls under CWE-320 (Key Management Errors), specifically involving the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys within the application package. The affected component stores sensitive Firebase service configuration data, including API keys, in the google-services-desktop.json file located in the application's assets directory.
Hard-coded cryptographic keys represent a fundamental security design flaw. When cryptographic secrets are embedded directly in application code or configuration files, they become accessible to anyone who can decompile or inspect the Android APK. This undermines the fundamental principle of cryptographic security, which relies on the secrecy of keys rather than the secrecy of algorithms.
The vulnerability requires local access to exploit, meaning an attacker would need to obtain a copy of the APK file and extract or decompile it to access the embedded key material. Once extracted, these keys could potentially be used to interact with Firebase backend services without proper authorization.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the inclusion of sensitive cryptographic key material directly within the application's asset files. The google-services-desktop.json file, typically used for Firebase configuration, contains the current_key parameter with a hard-coded value. This practice violates secure key management principles, which dictate that cryptographic keys should be stored securely and never embedded in application packages that can be distributed and reverse-engineered.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to the Android application package. An attacker can obtain the APK through various means, including downloading from app stores, extracting from a device with USB debugging enabled, or through application backup mechanisms. Once the APK is obtained, standard reverse engineering tools can be used to extract the contents of the assets/ directory and inspect the google-services-desktop.json file.
The extracted key material from the current_key argument could potentially be used to:
- Authenticate to Firebase services as the application
- Access backend databases or cloud storage
- Intercept or manipulate application data
A detailed security analysis of Firebase API key exposure and its implications is available in the Notion Security Analysis on Firebase Key Exposure document.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5471
Indicators of Compromise
- Presence of hard-coded keys in assets/google-services-desktop.json within the APK
- Unexpected API calls to Firebase services from unauthorized sources
- Anomalous authentication patterns to backend services
Detection Strategies
- Implement static analysis scanning of Android APKs to detect hard-coded secrets in configuration files
- Monitor Firebase authentication logs for unauthorized access attempts using exposed API keys
- Use mobile application security testing (MAST) tools to identify embedded credentials during development
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on Firebase backend services to track API key usage patterns
- Configure alerts for authentication attempts from unexpected geographic locations or IP addresses
- Implement rate limiting on Firebase API endpoints to mitigate potential abuse of exposed keys
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5471
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Investory Toy Planet Trouble App to a patched version when available
- Review Firebase security rules to restrict what actions can be performed with API keys
- Rotate any exposed cryptographic keys and API credentials
- Implement server-side validation and authorization checks that don't rely solely on API keys
Patch Information
No official patch information is currently available from the vendor. Users should monitor for updates to the Investory Toy Planet Trouble App through the Google Play Store or the vendor's official channels. Additional technical details can be found in the VulDB Vulnerability #355075 database entry and the VulDB Submission #781784 reference.
Workarounds
- Configure Firebase security rules to restrict anonymous access and enforce user authentication
- Implement additional server-side authorization checks that validate requests beyond API key authentication
- Consider using Firebase App Check to verify that requests originate from legitimate app instances
- Enable IP whitelisting on Firebase services if the backend is only accessed from known server infrastructure
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
