CVE-2018-15003 in Coolpad Defiant
Summary
by MITRE
The Coolpad Defiant (Coolpad/cp3632a/cp3632a:7.1.1/NMF26F/099480857:user/release-keys) and the T-Mobile Revvl Plus (Coolpad/alchemy/alchemy:7.1.1/143.14.171129.3701A-TMO/buildf_nj_02-206:user/release-keys) Android devices contain a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.qualcomm.qti.telephony.extcarrierpack (versionCode=25, versionName=7.1.1) containing an exported broadcast receiver app component named com.qualcomm.qti.telephony.extcarrierpack.UiccReceiver that allows any app co-located on the device to programmatically perform a factory reset. In addition, the app initiating the factory reset does not require any permissions. A factory reset will remove all user data and apps from the device. This will result in the loss of any data that have not been backed up or synced externally. The capability to perform a factory reset is not directly available to third-party apps (those that the user installs themselves with the exception of enabled Mobile Device Management (MDM) apps), although this capability can be obtained by leveraging an unprotected app component of a pre-installed platform app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-15003 represents a critical security flaw in specific Android devices manufactured by Coolpad, namely the Defiant and T-Mobile Revvl Plus models. This issue stems from a pre-installed platform application that operates with excessive privileges and lacks proper access controls. The affected application com.qualcomm.qti.telephony.extcarrierpack contains an exported broadcast receiver component named UiccReceiver that exposes a dangerous functionality to any application running on the same device. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles by allowing unrestricted access to critical system operations that should be protected from unauthorized execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a broadcast receiver component that has been improperly configured with the exported attribute set to true, making it accessible to any application on the device. This receiver operates without requiring any specific permissions to invoke the factory reset functionality, creating a significant attack surface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it bypasses normal Android security mechanisms that typically restrict third-party applications from performing system-level operations like factory resets. The attack vector is simple and effective, requiring only that an attacker's application be present on the device to exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data loss to encompass broader security implications for device users and organizations. A successful exploitation results in complete data erasure including user applications, personal information, and potentially sensitive corporate data stored on the device. The vulnerability affects both consumer and enterprise users since it targets pre-installed platform applications that cannot be easily removed or modified by end users. This issue is particularly problematic for mobile device management scenarios where unauthorized parties could potentially leverage this weakness to compromise device integrity and user privacy.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284 which describes "Improper Access Control" and specifically addresses inadequate protection of system-level operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and persistence through the use of legitimate system components. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1490 which covers "Inhibit System Recovery" through factory reset operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that include monitoring for unauthorized applications and regular security assessments of pre-installed components. The recommended mitigations include disabling or removing the vulnerable application component when possible, implementing strict application installation policies, and ensuring that device firmware is updated to address known vulnerabilities in platform applications. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of installing unknown applications and the importance of maintaining up-to-date device security patches.