CVE-2018-15007 in Elite
Summary
by MITRE
The Sky Elite 6.0L+ Android device with a build fingerprint of SKY/x6069_trx_l601_sky/x6069_trx_l601_sky:6.0/MRA58K/1482897127:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.fw.upgrade.sysoper (versionCode=238, versionName=2.3.8) that contains an exported broadcast receiver app component named com.adups.fota.sysoper.WriteCommandReceiver that allows any app co-located on the device to supply arbitrary commands to be executed as the system user. The com.fw.upgrade.sysoper app cannot be disabled by the user and the attack can be performed by a zero-permission app. Executing commands as system user can allow a third-party app to video record the user's screen, factory reset the device, obtain the user's notifications, read the logcat logs, inject events in the Graphical User Interface (GUI), change the default Input Method Editor (IME) (e.g., keyboard) with one contained within the attacking app that contains keylogging functionality, obtain the user's text messages, and more.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-15007 represents a critical security flaw in the Sky Elite 6.0L+ Android device that stems from improper privilege management within a pre-installed system application. This vulnerability exists within the com.fw.upgrade.sysoper package which is configured with a broadcast receiver component named com.adups.fota.sysoper.WriteCommandReceiver that has been exported without proper security restrictions. The flaw allows any application running on the same device to send arbitrary commands to this receiver, effectively enabling privilege escalation from a regular application to system-level privileges. This configuration violates fundamental Android security principles where system-level components should not be accessible to unprivileged applications without proper authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure component exposure where the exported broadcast receiver lacks proper permission checks or authentication mechanisms. The receiver component is designed to handle system-level commands but has been configured to accept input from any application without verifying the calling application's identity or privileges. This architectural flaw creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited by malicious applications that are already present on the device or installed through legitimate means. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level without requiring any special permissions from the attacking application, making it extremely difficult to detect and prevent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, creating multiple attack vectors that can compromise user privacy and device integrity. An attacker with access to this vulnerability can perform actions that would normally require system-level permissions, including screen recording, factory resetting the device, accessing user notifications, reading system logs, injecting GUI events, changing input method editors to include keylogging functionality, and accessing text messages. This comprehensive attack surface allows for persistent surveillance and data exfiltration capabilities that can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or corporate espionage. The vulnerability affects the device's core security model by bypassing Android's permission system and granting full system access to any application that can interact with the vulnerable broadcast receiver.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant failure in Android's security architecture where system-level components are exposed without proper access controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including privilege escalation through system components, credential access through keylogging capabilities, and defense evasion through persistent access to system resources. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of TTPs related to initial access through pre-installed applications and lateral movement within the device's security boundaries. The fact that this component cannot be disabled by users creates a persistent threat that exists across all device sessions and cannot be mitigated through standard user-level security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate device-level protections and long-term architectural improvements. Device manufacturers should implement proper permission controls on system components and ensure that broadcast receivers with system-level capabilities are properly secured against unauthorized access. Users should be advised to avoid installing untrusted applications on devices with this vulnerability, as any application installed on the device could potentially exploit this flaw. System administrators and security professionals should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access to system-level components and establish device hardening procedures that disable or remove vulnerable pre-installed applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits of pre-installed applications and the need for proper application lifecycle management to prevent similar issues in future device deployments.