CVE-2018-16618 in Storio Max
Summary
by MITRE
VTech Storio Max before 56.D3JM6 allows remote command execution via shell metacharacters in an Android activity name. It exposes the storeintenttranslate.x service on port 1668 listening for requests on localhost. Requests submitted to this service are checked for a string of random characters followed by the name of an Android activity to start. Activities are started by inserting their name into a string that is executed in a shell command. By inserting metacharacters this can be exploited to run arbitrary commands as root. The requests also match those of the HTTP protocol and can be triggered on any web page rendered on the device by requesting resources stored at an http://127.0.0.1:1668/ URI, as demonstrated by the http://127.0.0.1:1668/dacdb70556479813fab2d92896596eef?';{ping,example.org}' URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-16618 represents a critical remote command execution flaw in VTech Storio Max devices running firmware versions prior to 56.D3JM6. This vulnerability exists within the storeintenttranslate.x service that operates on port 1668 and listens exclusively on localhost. The service processes incoming requests that follow a specific pattern where a random character string is followed by an Android activity name to be launched. The technical implementation of this service creates a dangerous attack surface by directly incorporating user-supplied activity names into shell command execution contexts without proper input sanitization or validation.
The core technical flaw stems from improper input handling where the Android activity name parameter is directly embedded into a shell command string and subsequently executed with root privileges. This design violates fundamental security principles and creates a classic command injection vulnerability. When attackers insert shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks into the activity name parameter, they can manipulate the executed shell command to perform unintended operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the service receives requests that conform to HTTP protocol standards, allowing exploitation through web page rendering on the device. The attack vector becomes particularly dangerous because it can be triggered simply by accessing a web page that references resources at http://127.0.0.1:1668/ URI endpoints, making it highly accessible to remote attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching as it grants remote attackers complete control over affected devices with root privileges. The exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the device, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability affects devices that are designed for children's use, making the implications even more concerning from a privacy and security standpoint. The fact that the service operates on localhost but can be accessed through web content renders traditional network-based security controls ineffective, as the attack can originate from any web page loaded on the device, regardless of network segmentation or firewall rules.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 56.D3JM6 or later, which addresses the input sanitization issues in the storeintenttranslate.x service. Organizations should implement network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to localhost services and consider disabling unnecessary services that listen on local interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, monitoring for unusual network activity on port 1668, and conducting security assessments to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities in other embedded systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in embedded systems, particularly those designed for consumer use where security controls may be minimal or absent.