CVE-2011-1738 in Palm webOS
Summary
by MITRE
HP Palm webOS 1.4.5 and 1.4.5.1 does not properly restrict Plug-in Development Kit (PDK) applications, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging unintended filesystem write access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1738 affects HP Palm webOS versions 1.4.5 and 1.4.5.1, representing a critical privilege escalation issue within the mobile operating system's plugin development framework. This flaw stems from inadequate access controls within the Plug-in Development Kit application environment, creating a security gap that malicious local users can exploit to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the file system access controls that should normally prevent unauthorized write operations, allowing attackers to manipulate system resources through unintended pathways.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper restriction of plugin applications within the PDK framework, which should normally operate under strict sandboxing conditions. However, the flaw enables local users to gain unintended write access to critical filesystem locations that should remain protected from modification. This misconfiguration allows the exploitation of a privilege escalation vector where standard user-level applications can manipulate system files and potentially gain root or administrative privileges. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level or system service layer where file access controls are insufficiently enforced, creating an attack surface that violates fundamental security principles of mobile operating system design.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe threat to device security and user privacy, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive corporate data. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are especially dangerous because they require minimal attack vectors and can be exploited by any user with access to the device. The attack scenario involves a malicious local user leveraging the PDK application's unintended write capabilities to modify system binaries, configuration files, or other critical components. This could lead to complete system compromise, persistent backdoor installation, or data exfiltration capabilities that bypass traditional security controls.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates poor security design principles in mobile operating system development, where the separation between user applications and system services is insufficiently maintained. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability type is particularly concerning in mobile platforms where users may have elevated privileges due to the nature of mobile device usage patterns and the limited security model enforcement compared to traditional desktop environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1738 should prioritize immediate system updates from HP to patch the identified PDK access control flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that restrict PDK application usage and monitor for unauthorized plugin installations. Network administrators should deploy endpoint protection solutions that can detect suspicious file system modifications and unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of mobile device environments and ensure that device firmware and operating system updates are applied promptly. The remediation process must include verification that PDK applications operate under proper sandboxing conditions and that filesystem write access is appropriately restricted to prevent unauthorized modifications to system components.