CVE-2013-6272 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The NotificationBroadcastReceiver class in the com.android.phone process in Google Android 4.1.1 through 4.4.2 allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and consequently make phone calls to arbitrary numbers, send mmi or ussd codes, or hangup ongoing calls via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6272 resides within the NotificationBroadcastReceiver class of the com.android.phone process in Google Android versions 4.1.1 through 4.4.2. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the intended access controls governing telephony functions within the Android operating system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the telephony subsystem, specifically affecting how broadcast intents are processed and executed within the phone service context. The flaw allows malicious applications to exploit the notification receiver to execute privileged telephony operations without proper authorization, effectively bypassing the security boundaries that should protect these sensitive functions from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of broadcast intents that are normally restricted to system-level components or specific authorized applications. Attackers can craft malicious applications that send specially formatted broadcast intents to the NotificationBroadcastReceiver, which then processes these intents without adequate verification of the sending application's privileges. This lack of proper authentication and authorization checking creates an attack surface where arbitrary applications can invoke telephony functions including making phone calls to any number, sending MMI or USSD codes, or terminating ongoing calls. The vulnerability specifically targets the Android framework's handling of telephony-related broadcasts and demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the operating system's security model. The flaw operates at the system service level where telephony operations are executed, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to perform actions that should only be available to system components or privileged applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized telephony operations that can lead to financial loss, privacy violations, and potential system compromise. An attacker could use this vulnerability to make unauthorized calls to premium rate numbers, send USSD codes that may trigger billing charges, or manipulate ongoing calls to disrupt communication services. The ability to send MMI codes provides additional attack vectors for executing various telephony commands that could potentially be used for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also enables persistent surveillance capabilities as attackers could monitor or manipulate call activities without the user's knowledge or consent. This flaw particularly affects mobile devices running vulnerable Android versions, creating a widespread security risk across numerous devices and applications that rely on the Android telephony framework. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy to potentially compromise enterprise security if devices are used for business communications or access to corporate networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6272 should focus on both immediate patching and defensive measures. The primary solution involves updating to Android versions that contain the security fixes for this vulnerability, specifically Android 4.4.3 and later versions where the issue has been resolved through improved access control mechanisms and input validation. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can send broadcast intents to telephony services, ensuring that only trusted system applications can access these privileged functions. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual telephony activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly monitoring for unauthorized call initiation or USSD code execution. Device administrators should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce additional security policies and monitor for suspicious application behavior. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in system services, aligning with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and execution techniques where attackers leverage system service weaknesses to execute unauthorized commands. Security professionals should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar access control flaws in other system components and ensure that proper security boundaries are maintained between privileged and unprivileged application contexts.