Google Patched Bug Leaking Phone Numbers

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title: “Google Patches Critical Bug Exposing Account-Linked Phone Numbers” categories: [Cybersecurity & Data Protection, Vulnerabilities] author: “Vitus” date: 2025-06-09 tags: [cybersecurity, threat-intelligence, data-breach] —

TL;DR

Google recently patched a significant vulnerability that allowed attackers to brute-force and expose recovery phone numbers tied to Google accounts, posing substantial risks for phishing and SIM-swapping attacks. The flaw enabled retrieval of phone numbers using only a profile name and a partial phone number, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

Google Patches Critical Bug Exposing Account-Linked Phone Numbers

A recently discovered vulnerability in Google’s account recovery system presented a serious security risk. This flaw allowed researchers—and potentially malicious actors—to brute-force the recovery phone numbers associated with Google accounts. By simply knowing a profile name and a portion of the phone number, attackers could exploit this vulnerability to obtain full phone numbers, thereby facilitating phishing and SIM-swapping attacks.

Understanding the Vulnerability

The vulnerability stemmed from a weakness in Google’s account recovery process. Attackers could leverage this weakness to systematically guess the remaining digits of a phone number, ultimately retrieving the full number. This process, known as brute-forcing, involves trying multiple combinations until the correct one is found.

Key points about the vulnerability:

• Exploitation: Attackers needed only a profile name and a partial phone number to initiate the brute-force attack.
• Impact: Successful exploitation exposed full phone numbers, increasing the risk of phishing and SIM-swapping attacks.
• Risks: Compromised phone numbers could be used to bypass two-factor authentication, leading to unauthorized account access.

Implications and Risks

The exposure of phone numbers linked to Google accounts poses several critical risks:

• Phishing Attacks: Attackers could use the obtained phone numbers to conduct targeted phishing campaigns, tricking users into revealing sensitive information.
• SIM-Swapping: With access to full phone numbers, attackers could perform SIM-swapping, where they transfer a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card under their control, thereby intercepting messages and calls.
• Account Compromise: Compromised phone numbers could lead to unauthorized access to various online accounts, especially those using phone numbers for verification or two-factor authentication.

Google’s Response

Google has promptly addressed the vulnerability by implementing a patch that strengthens the account recovery process. This update aims to prevent brute-force attacks and enhance the overall security of user accounts.

Conclusion

The discovery and subsequent patching of this vulnerability underscore the continuous challenges in maintaining robust cybersecurity measures. Users are advised to remain vigilant and consider additional security practices, such as using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication where available.

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