CVE-2019-15425 in M4s
Summary
by MITRE
The Kata M4s Android device with a build fingerprint of alps/full_hct6750_66_n/hct6750_66_n:7.0/NRD90M/1495624556:user/test-keys contains a pre-installed app with a package name of com.mediatek.factorymode app (versionCode=1, versionName=1) that allows unauthorized wireless settings modification 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 identified as CVE-2019-15425 represents a critical security flaw in the Kata M4s Android device that stems from improper privilege management within a pre-installed factory mode application. This device utilizes a build fingerprint of alps/full_hct6750_66_n/hct6750_66_n:7.0/NRD90M/1495624556:user/test-keys and contains a factory mode application with package name com.mediatek.factorymode that operates with excessive permissions. The vulnerability manifests through a confused deputy attack vector where malicious applications can exploit the legitimate application's elevated privileges to modify wireless settings without proper authorization. This represents a fundamental breakdown in Android's security model where a trusted application is improperly configured to accept requests from untrusted sources, creating an attack surface that any co-located application can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the factory mode application failing to properly validate the calling application's identity and permissions before executing wireless configuration modifications. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability directly relates to inadequate access control mechanisms where the application does not enforce proper authentication checks. The device's security architecture permits unauthorized applications to send intents to the factory mode application that should only be executable by system-level components or applications with explicit administrative privileges. The confusion arises from the application's trust model where it accepts commands from any application that can send the appropriate intents, regardless of whether the sender has legitimate authorization to modify wireless settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to modify critical wireless configurations that can compromise the device's network security posture. An attacker could potentially disable wireless security features, modify network profiles, or redirect network traffic to malicious endpoints without user knowledge or consent. This vulnerability can be exploited to create persistent backdoors or facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks against the device's wireless communications. The attack can be executed silently in the background without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices where users may not be aware of unauthorized configuration changes. According to ATT&CK technique T1068, this vulnerability enables privilege escalation and lateral movement within the device's network environment, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access to the device's wireless capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from device manufacturers and security administrators. The most effective approach involves implementing proper intent validation and signature verification within the factory mode application to ensure that only trusted system components can execute wireless configuration changes. Device manufacturers should update the factory mode application to enforce strict permission checks and implement proper component isolation. Security patches should be deployed to restrict the application's intent handling capabilities and ensure that wireless modification requests are properly authenticated. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid installing untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability, and security monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized wireless configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security architecture design where even system applications must validate their calling context to prevent privilege abuse.