CVE-2019-15434 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
The Samsung A5 Android device with a build fingerprint of samsung/a5y17ltexx/a5y17lte:8.0.0/R16NW/A520FXXS8CSC5:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed app with a package name of com.samsung.android.themecenter app (versionCode=7000000, versionName=7.0.0.0) that allows other pre-installed apps to perform app installation via an accessible app component. This capability can be accessed by any pre-installed app on the device which can obtain signatureOrSystem permissions that are required by other other pre-installed apps that exported their capabilities to other pre-installed app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15434 resides within the Samsung A5 Android device running Android 8.0.0, specifically affecting the pre-installed theme center application with package name com.samsung.android.themecenter. This security flaw represents a critical permission escalation issue that undermines the Android security model by allowing unauthorized app installation through legitimate system components. The vulnerability stems from improper component exposure within the Samsung-specific pre-installed application ecosystem, creating a pathway for malicious actors to leverage legitimate system functionality for unauthorized purposes.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper exposure of app installation capabilities within the theme center application, which acts as a conduit for other pre-installed applications to perform package installations. This vulnerability operates through the Android permission system where apps with signatureOrSystem permissions can access exported components of other applications. The exposed functionality allows any pre-installed application with appropriate system-level permissions to install additional packages, effectively bypassing normal Android security boundaries and application sandboxing mechanisms. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in Android's permission model implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise potential. Attackers can leverage this flaw to install malicious applications without user interaction or explicit consent, potentially leading to persistent backdoors, data exfiltration capabilities, or further exploitation of the device. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the pre-installed application ecosystem, meaning the malicious installation can occur without triggering typical security warnings or user prompts that would normally accompany unknown application installations. This creates a stealthy attack vector that can remain undetected while establishing persistent access to the device.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15434 should focus on immediate system hardening and access control enforcement. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that restrict pre-installed application permissions and monitor for unauthorized package installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1166 (PowerShell) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) through the exploitation of legitimate system tools for unauthorized purposes. Device manufacturers should enforce strict component exposure controls and implement runtime monitoring for suspicious package installation activities. Users should be advised to avoid sideloading applications and maintain current security patches while administrators should consider implementing application blacklisting policies for potentially compromised pre-installed applications.
The vulnerability highlights fundamental security gaps in Android's pre-installed application model and demonstrates how vendor-specific implementations can introduce unexpected attack surfaces. Security researchers have noted that similar issues exist across various Samsung devices and Android OEM implementations, indicating this represents a systemic problem rather than an isolated incident. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. Proper remediation requires both immediate patching of affected applications and long-term architectural changes to prevent similar exposure of system components to unauthorized applications within the Android security framework.