CVE-2019-14759 in KaiOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in KaiOS 1.0, 2.5, and 2.5.1. The pre-installed Radio application is vulnerable to HTML and JavaScript injection attacks. A local attacker can inject arbitrary HTML into the Radio application. At a bare minimum, this allows an attacker to take control over the Radio application's UI (e.g., display a malicious prompt to the user asking them to re-enter credentials such as their KaiOS credentials to continue using the application) and also allows an attacker to abuse any of the privileges available to the mobile application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14759 represents a critical security flaw in KaiOS operating systems version 1.0, 2.5, and 2.5.1 affecting the pre-installed Radio application. This issue constitutes a server-side request forgery vulnerability that allows local attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the application's user interface. The flaw exists within the application's handling of user input and data processing, creating an attack surface that enables malicious code execution within the context of the Radio application. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within web-based components of mobile operating systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Radio application's failure to properly sanitize user-provided data before rendering it within the application's interface. When the application processes user input or external data sources, it does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into the application's rendering pipeline. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with significant control over the Radio application's user interface and potentially broader system access. Attackers can manipulate the application's display to create convincing phishing prompts that deceive users into providing sensitive information such as KaiOS credentials or other authentication details. The malicious prompts can appear legitimate and integrated within the normal application flow, making them particularly effective for social engineering attacks. Additionally, since the Radio application runs with the privileges of the mobile application context, attackers can leverage this access to perform actions that would normally require elevated permissions, potentially leading to further system compromise or data exfiltration.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple UI manipulation as it represents a complete breakdown in the application's security boundaries. Attackers can exploit this flaw to perform privilege escalation attacks, access sensitive application data, or manipulate the application's functionality in ways that could affect system stability and user privacy. The local nature of the attack means that no network connectivity is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access to devices is possible. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in mobile application development, as the Radio application should not have access to capabilities that could be abused for system-wide attacks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies and consider the broader security implications of pre-installed applications in embedded mobile operating systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for security testing in all application components, particularly those with direct user interaction and system access privileges.