CVE-2008-3553 in J2me
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Nokia Series 40 3rd edition devices allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, probably related to MIDP privilege escalation and persistent MIDlets, aka "ISSUES 3-10." NOTE: as of 20080807, the only disclosure is a vague pre-advisory with no actionable information. However, because it is from a company led by a well-known researcher, it is being assigned a CVE identifier for tracking purposes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3553 represents a critical security flaw affecting Nokia Series 40 3rd edition mobile devices that operates within the mobile application environment. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerabilities that exist in mobile operating systems and application frameworks, specifically targeting devices that utilize the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) framework for application execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices without requiring physical access or user interaction, making it a significant threat to mobile device security.
The technical nature of this vulnerability appears to be rooted in privilege escalation mechanisms within the MIDP framework, which is a specification for running Java applications on mobile devices. This type of vulnerability typically exploits weaknesses in how the MIDP runtime environment manages application permissions and security boundaries between different application contexts. The issue is likely related to how persistent MIDlets are handled, which are applications that can maintain state and data across device reboots or application restarts. The vulnerability may involve improper validation of MIDlet permissions or inadequate sandboxing mechanisms that allow malicious applications to gain elevated privileges beyond their intended scope. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability could be classified as a weakness in privilege management or security boundary enforcement, potentially falling under CWE-276 for improper privileges or CWE-264 for permissions, privileges, and access control.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3553 is substantial given that it affects a widely deployed mobile platform with significant market presence. The vulnerability enables remote code execution, meaning attackers can potentially compromise devices from anywhere in the world without requiring any physical access or user interaction. This capability allows for various malicious activities including data theft, device control, installation of persistent malware, and potential use as a foothold for further attacks within corporate networks. The fact that these devices were commonly used in enterprise environments makes the impact even more severe, as compromised devices could provide access to sensitive corporate data and network resources. The vulnerability's classification under the ISSUES 3-10 designation suggests it was part of a broader set of security concerns affecting Nokia's mobile platform ecosystem.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability would have required immediate firmware updates from Nokia to address the underlying privilege escalation flaws in the MIDP implementation. Security patches would need to focus on strengthening the security boundaries between applications and the underlying operating system, improving permission validation mechanisms, and ensuring proper sandboxing of MIDlet applications. Organizations using these devices would need to implement immediate network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network segmentation to limit the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, potentially enabling later stages of attack such as credential access and defense evasion. The lack of specific details in the initial disclosure makes it challenging to develop precise defensive measures, but the general approach would involve comprehensive mobile device management and security hardening practices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing for mobile application frameworks and the need for robust security boundaries in mobile operating systems to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation and remote code execution.