CVE-2019-15352 in 1851
Summary
by MITRE
The Coolpad 1851 Android device with a build fingerprint of Coolpad/android/android:8.1.0/O11019/1534834761:userdebug/release-keys contains a pre-installed app with a package name of com.mediatek.wfo.impl app (versionCode=27, versionName=8.1.0) that allows any app co-located on the device to modify a system property through an exported interface without proper authorization.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15352 represents a critical security flaw in the Coolpad 1851 Android device running Android 8.1.0. This issue stems from a pre-installed application named com.mediatek.wfo.impl which serves as a system component for managing wireless features. The device build fingerprint indicates a specific configuration that includes this vulnerable component, making it susceptible to unauthorized manipulation of system properties. The vulnerability specifically resides in the exported interface of this system application that lacks proper authentication mechanisms, allowing any co-located application to modify critical system parameters without appropriate authorization.
The technical flaw manifests through an insecure exported interface within the MediaTek wireless feature implementation component. This interface provides functionality to modify system properties but fails to implement proper access controls or authentication checks. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation by allowing any application with sufficient permissions to manipulate system-level settings through this unprotected channel. The exported interface essentially acts as an attack surface that bypasses normal Android security boundaries, enabling malicious applications to perform unauthorized modifications to the device's core system parameters. This represents a direct violation of Android's security model where system properties should only be modifiable by privileged system components or applications with explicit permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to manipulate critical device functions. Any application co-located on the device can leverage this interface to modify system properties that may affect network connectivity, device behavior, or security settings. This vulnerability could enable attackers to disable security features, modify network configurations, or establish persistent access to the device through system-level modifications. The implications are particularly severe given that this is a pre-installed system component, meaning it runs with elevated privileges and cannot be easily removed or replaced by users. This creates a long-term exposure that could be exploited across multiple device configurations and potentially affect a large number of users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and authorization checks within the exported interfaces of system components. The recommended approach involves restricting access to system properties through proper authentication mechanisms and ensuring that only authorized system components can modify critical parameters. Security measures should include implementing the principle of least privilege by limiting the permissions granted to applications that interact with system properties. Additionally, device manufacturers should conduct comprehensive security reviews of all pre-installed applications and their exported interfaces to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The solution should align with industry standards such as CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and ATT&CK technique T1546.004 related to exploitation of system services. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be implemented to address such vulnerabilities in pre-installed components, as this represents a fundamental flaw in the device's security architecture that requires both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in future device deployments.