CVE-2018-15005 in ZMAX Champ
Summary
by MITRE
The ZTE ZMAX Champ Android device with a build fingerprint of ZTE/Z917VL/fortune:6.0.1/MMB29M/20170327.120922:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.zte.zdm.sdm (versionCode=31, versionName=V5.0.3) that contains an exported broadcast receiver app component named com.zte.zdm.VdmcBroadcastReceiver that allows any app co-located on the device to programmatically initiate 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 • 04/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15005 represents a critical security flaw in the ZTE ZMAX Champ Android device running Android 6.0.1. This issue stems from a pre-installed platform application named com.zte.zdm.sdm which operates with version code 31 and version name V5.0.3. The vulnerability specifically resides within an exported broadcast receiver component called com.zte.zdm.VdmcBroadcastReceiver that exposes a dangerous functionality to any application co-located on the device. This architectural flaw fundamentally violates the principle of least privilege by allowing unrestricted access to a system-critical operation that should be tightly controlled and authenticated. The broadcast receiver operates without requiring any specific permissions, creating an attack surface that enables arbitrary applications to trigger factory reset operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insecure component exposure within the Android security model. The exported broadcast receiver component essentially provides a backdoor mechanism that bypasses normal Android permission checking and application sandboxing. According to CWE-668, this represents an "Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere" where a resource intended for restricted access is made available to unauthorized entities. The vulnerability allows any application that can access the device's local application space to programmatically invoke the factory reset functionality, effectively creating a privilege escalation vector. This is particularly concerning because the factory reset operation is designed to be a system-level function that should require elevated privileges or explicit user confirmation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, creating a comprehensive security risk for users of the affected device. A factory reset operation removes all user data, applications, and settings from the device, effectively wiping the entire user environment. This represents a complete loss of personal information, application data, and potentially sensitive business information if the device is used for work purposes. The vulnerability's implications align with ATT&CK technique T1489, which describes "Service Stop" and encompasses methods for disrupting system functionality through unauthorized access to critical system components. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it does not require any special privileges or user interaction beyond having an application installed on the device, making it exploitable by malicious applications that may be pre-installed or installed through legitimate means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate device security and long-term system hardening. Users should immediately disable or uninstall the vulnerable application com.zte.zdm.sdm if possible, though this may not always be feasible on locked-down devices. Device administrators should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that can detect and prevent unauthorized access to system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper component exposure management within Android applications, where exported components should only be accessible to applications with legitimate need. Security professionals should consider implementing runtime application security monitoring to detect unauthorized broadcast receiver access patterns and establish baseline behavior for system components. Additionally, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of regular security audits of pre-installed applications and the importance of following Android security best practices regarding component exposure and permission modeling. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights in pre-installed platform applications can create significant risks for end users and organizations relying on mobile device security.