CVE-2019-15418 in X00K_1
Summary
by MITRE
The Asus ASUS_X00K_1 Android device with a build fingerprint of asus/CN_X00K/ASUS_X00K_1:7.0/NRD90M/CN_X00K-14.01.1711.27-20180420:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed app with a package name of com.lovelyfont.defcontainer app (versionCode=5, versionName=5.0.1) that allows unauthorized command execution via a confused deputy attack. This capability can be accessed by any app co-located on the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-15418 represents a critical security flaw in the Android operating system implementation on specific Asus devices, namely the ASUS_X00K_1 model. This issue stems from a pre-installed application named com.lovelyfont.defcontainer which operates with elevated privileges and contains a confused deputy attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows any application co-located on the same device to execute arbitrary commands, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that should protect system integrity. The build fingerprint asus/CN_X00K/ASUS_X00K_1:7.0/NRD90M/CN_X00K-14.01.1711.27-20180420:user/release-keys indicates this affects a specific Android 7.0 release with particular firmware modifications that introduced this security weakness.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a confused deputy attack pattern where the legitimate application com.lovelyfont.defcontainer is manipulated by malicious applications to perform unauthorized operations. This type of attack occurs when a trusted application is tricked into performing actions on behalf of an untrusted entity, effectively allowing the malicious app to leverage the trusted application's permissions and privileges. The vulnerability exists due to improper permission handling and security context management within the Android framework, specifically in how the system handles inter-process communication and privilege escalation. The package version 5.0.1 suggests this is a relatively old application that was not properly secured against such attacks, and the fact that it's pre-installed on the device means users cannot simply uninstall it to resolve the issue.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with a persistent backdoor mechanism that can be exploited without requiring special privileges or root access. Any application installed on the device can potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly broad because it affects any app co-located on the device, meaning that even legitimate applications that are not inherently malicious could be used to deliver payloads that exploit this vulnerability. This creates a dangerous scenario where a compromised application can immediately escalate privileges and gain access to system-level functionality that should normally be restricted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves updating the affected device firmware to a version that patches the confused deputy attack vector in the com.lovelyfont.defcontainer application. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that prevent installation of untrusted applications and regularly audit installed applications for potential security risks. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a security architecture perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and secure inter-process communication mechanisms, aligning with CWE-276 principles for secure privilege management and ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability also underscores the need for proper security testing of pre-installed applications and the implementation of robust application sandboxing mechanisms to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.