Using Hinge as a Command and Control Server

Summary

Disclaimer: This doesn't qualify for consideration through Hinge's Hacker One disclosure page since we need to patch the app and MITM it. Although this technique is convoluted, I think a threat actor could make great use of it, which means it's worthy of attention. Besides, making C2s out of random things is free and fun entertainment, as Mauro Eldritch demonstrates. Repository: https://github.com/matthewwiese/hinge-command-control-c2 Account Setup I'm going to assume you have already installed Hinge on an Android device. Our first hurdle is the account creation setup, as a phone number is required. Back in the day you could make a throwaway Google Voice number for stuff like this, but everyone has caught on to that now so I rarely bother. The best approach I've found for research are Mint Mobile 7-day trial SIMs. Chances are the number is already registered to a Hinge account, so you're gonna want to get more than one. They look like this: These can be bought on eBay or in-person with cash at places like Target and Best Buy. If you're paranoid about being caught on CCTV at a retail store, then you're probably a criminal. If it makes you feel any better though, most places don't store footage for longer than a month, so plan your escapades in advance. The Payload Please see the GitHub repo linked above for all necessary files. To demonstrate this proof of concept, we will be using a vibe-coded Python script that visually encodes a binary into an image. When a user uploads a photo, Hinge transforms it before storing on their CDN. Somebody with steganography chops could probably get around that; treat what follows as an appetizer, the entrée is only limited by your imagination. The "payload" in question is just a toy C program that prints "Hello World" - compile it: gcc -s payload.c -o payload Next, we will use our script to encode the image (numpy and PIL are required): python enc.py encode payload payload.png You should get something that looks like this: Like I sai...