CVE-2019-15356 in Flair Z1
Summary
by MITRE
The Lava Flair Z1 Android device with a build fingerprint of LAVA/Z1/Z1:8.1.0/O11019/1536680131:user/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 described in CVE-2019-15356 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Lava Flair Z1 Android device's pre-installed telecommunications framework. This issue stems from the com.mediatek.wfo.impl application which serves as a component responsible for handling wireless feature operations within the device's telephony subsystem. The vulnerability manifests through an exported interface that exposes system property modification capabilities to any application that happens to be co-located on the same device, effectively bypassing the normal Android security model that restricts such operations to system-level components only. This flaw creates a dangerous attack surface where malicious applications could potentially manipulate core system parameters that control device behavior and security settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and specifically relates to CWE-732, inadequate privilege management or insufficient privileges. The exported interface within the com.mediatek.wfo.impl package creates an unauthorized pathway for privilege escalation, allowing any application with sufficient access to invoke system property modification functions without proper authentication or authorization checks. This design flaw enables attackers to modify critical system properties that could affect network connectivity, security policies, or device functionality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level and leverages the trust relationship between pre-installed system applications and the device's core operating environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, creating potential pathways for advanced persistent threats and device compromise. Attackers could exploit this flaw to modify system properties that control network behavior, potentially enabling them to intercept communications, disable security features, or redirect network traffic. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges beyond having an application installed on the same device, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications are present. This could allow threat actors to establish persistent access or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against the device's telecommunications functionality, with implications for data confidentiality and integrity. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a pre-installed application, meaning it cannot be easily removed or updated by end users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Device manufacturers should implement proper interface sanitization and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modification of system properties through exported interfaces. The Android security model requires that system properties modification be restricted to verified system components only, and this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in enforcing such restrictions. Organizations should consider implementing application blacklisting or whitelisting policies to prevent potentially malicious applications from accessing system resources, while also monitoring for unauthorized modifications to system properties. Security teams should also ensure that device firmware updates are applied promptly when available, as this vulnerability may have been addressed in subsequent software releases. The implementation of runtime application verification and system integrity checks can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while adherence to the principle of least privilege should be enforced throughout the device's application ecosystem. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing during the development lifecycle and the critical need for regular security audits of pre-installed applications, particularly those with access to system-level functionality.