CVE-2012-2640 in NEC BIGLOBE Yome Collection
Summary
by MITRE
The NEC BIGLOBE Yome Collection application 1.8.3 and earlier for Android allows remote attackers to read the IMEI value from an SD card via a crafted application that lacks the READ_PHONE_STATE permission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2640 represents a significant security flaw in the NEC BIGLOBE Yome Collection application version 1.8.3 and earlier for Android platforms. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive device information within the application's file system operations. The vulnerability specifically allows remote attackers to extract the International Mobile Equipment Identity value from an SD card without requiring the standard READ_PHONE_STATE permission that would normally be required to access such device identifiers. This represents a serious breach of Android's permission model and device security architecture, as it bypasses the fundamental security controls designed to protect sensitive telephony information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate file access permissions when reading data from external storage devices. Attackers can craft malicious applications that exploit this weakness by placing specially formatted files on the SD card that contain the IMEI value. The application then processes these files without appropriate security checks, effectively allowing unauthorized access to the device's unique identifier. This flaw operates at the intersection of Android's storage access controls and permission management system, creating an unexpected information disclosure channel that should not exist within properly secured applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant privacy and security risks. The IMEI value serves as a unique device identifier that can be used for tracking, device fingerprinting, and potentially malicious activities such as SIM card cloning or device-based fraud. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected application versions, regardless of their device security settings or permission configurations. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the device or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers system information discovery through unauthorized access mechanisms.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from both application developers and end-users. NEC and other vendors should implement immediate patches that enforce proper permission checking when accessing external storage, particularly when dealing with sensitive device identifiers. Users should be advised to avoid installing applications from untrusted sources and to keep their applications updated with the latest security patches. Additionally, Android security policies should be enhanced to prevent applications from accessing device identifiers through unauthorized file system channels. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive device information, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of mobile applications before deployment.