CVE-2012-2562 in MobileTrack
Summary
by MITRE
The Xelex MobileTrack application 2.3.7 and earlier for Android does not verify the origin of SMS commands, which allows remote attackers to execute a (1) LOCATE, (2) TRACK, (3) UPDATECFG, (4) UPDATEACCT, (5) STAT, (6) TERM, or (7) WIPE command via an SMS message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The CVE-2012-2562 vulnerability affects the Xelex MobileTrack application version 2.3.7 and earlier on Android devices, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of mobile device management protocols. This vulnerability stems from the application's complete failure to authenticate the source of incoming SMS commands, creating a significant attack surface that enables unauthorized remote execution of critical device management functions. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it accepts and processes commands from any source without verifying the sender's legitimacy or authorization status.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to send specially crafted SMS messages containing command sequences that trigger specific functions within the MobileTrack application. The seven distinct command types that can be executed remotely include LOCATE for determining device position, TRACK for monitoring movement patterns, UPDATECFG for modifying configuration settings, UPDATEACCT for altering account parameters, STAT for retrieving device status information, TERM for terminating services, and WIPE for erasing device data. This comprehensive command set provides attackers with extensive control over the target device, enabling them to perform reconnaissance, monitor device activity, modify security configurations, and ultimately destroy sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring physical access to the device or any sophisticated technical skills. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through simple SMS transmission, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from anywhere with cellular network coverage and does not require the target to interact with malicious content or install additional software. The vulnerability directly violates security principles of authentication and authorization, as defined by the CWE-310 standard for cryptographic weaknesses, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in mobile security implementations.
This vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in mobile application security design, particularly concerning the handling of untrusted input from SMS protocols. The lack of origin verification creates a pathway for attackers to perform device takeover operations, potentially leading to data theft, location tracking, and complete device compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1059.005 for command and script interpreter, T1070.004 for indicator removal on host, and T1566 for phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious commands without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-284 access control issues, specifically concerning improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to perform privileged operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms for SMS command processing, including source verification through trusted number lists, cryptographic signatures, or time-based authentication tokens. Organizations should consider immediate application updates or patches that enforce command origin verification, implement rate limiting to prevent command flooding, and establish secure communication channels for device management operations. Network-level protections such as SMS filtering and monitoring systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure mobile application development practices and the need for comprehensive security testing of mobile applications that handle sensitive device management functions, particularly those that rely on SMS-based communication protocols.