CVE-2018-14992 in ZenFone 3 Max
Summary
by MITRE
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max Android device with a build fingerprint of asus/US_Phone/ASUS_X008_1:7.0/NRD90M/US_Phone-14.14.1711.92-20171208:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.asus.dm (versionCode=1510500200, versionName=1.5.0.40_171122) has an exposed interface in an exported service named com.asus.dm.installer.DMInstallerService that allows any app co-located on the device to use its capabilities to download an arbitrary app over the internet and install it. Any app on the device can send an intent with specific embedded data that will cause the com.asus.dm app to programmatically download and install the app. For the app to be downloaded and installed, certain data needs to be provided: download URL, package name, version name from the app's AndroidManifest.xml file, and the MD5 hash of the app. Moreover, any app that is installed using this method can also be programmatically uninstalled using the same unprotected component named com.asus.dm.installer.DMInstallerService.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-14992 represents a critical security flaw in the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max Android device that exposes a privileged component through an improperly configured exported service. This vulnerability resides within the pre-installed platform application com.asus.dm which serves as a device management utility, specifically designed to handle remote application installation and management tasks. The exposed interface through the com.asus.dm.installer.DMInstallerService component creates a significant attack surface that allows any application co-located on the device to leverage this functionality without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically manifests through an exported service that lacks proper access controls, making it accessible to all applications running on the same device. This architectural flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security implementation in the Android application sandboxing model.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the ability of any malicious application to send an intent to the exposed DMInstallerService component with specific parameters including download URL, package name, version name, and MD5 hash of the target application. This mechanism effectively grants arbitrary code execution capabilities to any application that can access this service, as the system will automatically download and install applications without user consent or verification. The vulnerability encompasses both installation and uninstallation capabilities through the same unprotected interface, creating a complete attack vector that can be used to deploy malicious applications or remove legitimate ones. The attack requires no special privileges or root access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any application with basic permissions. This represents a classic example of an insecure service exposure that allows privilege escalation through legitimate system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple application installation capabilities, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and security of the entire device. Any application can now programmatically install malicious software without user awareness or consent, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or privacy violations. The vulnerability creates an attack vector that can be exploited by malware, adware, or other malicious applications that might be pre-installed on the device or downloaded by users. The ability to uninstall applications through the same interface means that legitimate security applications or user-installed applications can be removed without user knowledge, creating a persistent threat that can maintain itself on the device. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism that bypasses normal Android security controls and can be used to establish persistent access to the device. The impact is particularly severe given that the service is part of a pre-installed system application, making it more difficult to detect and remove.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure and the underlying architectural issues that allowed this flaw to exist. The most effective immediate solution involves disabling or removing the exposed service component through system updates or custom ROM modifications. Device manufacturers should implement proper access control mechanisms such as signature verification or user permission prompts before allowing installation or uninstallation operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper Android service configuration, where exported components should always include appropriate security checks. Organizations should implement mobile device management solutions that can monitor for suspicious application behavior and detect unauthorized installation activities. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources and the importance of keeping devices updated with security patches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-707 and represents a failure in proper input validation and access control implementation, as outlined in the CWE database. The attack pattern follows typical privilege escalation techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the application execution and persistence tactics. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper service exposure controls and represents a clear violation of Android security best practices.