CVE-2019-15438 in XCover4
Summary
by MITRE
The Samsung XCover4 Android device with a build fingerprint of samsung/xcover4ltedo/xcover4lte:8.1.0/M1AJQ/G390YDXU2BSA1:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed app with a package name of com.samsung.android.themecenter app (versionCode=7000100, versionName=7.0.1.0) 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-2019-15438 represents a significant security flaw in Samsung XCover4 Android devices running Android 8.1.0. This issue stems from the pre-installed Samsung Theme Center application which exposes an insecure component that permits other pre-installed applications to perform package installation operations. The vulnerability specifically affects devices with the build fingerprint samsung/xcover4ltedo/xcover4lte:8.1.0/M1AJQ/G390YDXU2BSA1 and involves the com.samsung.android.themecenter application with version code 7000100 and version name 7.0.1.0. The security risk emerges from the improper exposure of app installation capabilities through accessible app components that are not adequately protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a component within the Samsung Theme Center application that has been exported to allow access from other pre-installed applications on the device. This design flaw enables malicious or compromised pre-installed applications to leverage the signatureOrSystem permissions that are typically restricted to system-level operations. The vulnerability operates under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, where the application incorrectly assigns permissions that should be restricted to system-level components. The exported component essentially provides a backdoor mechanism that allows arbitrary package installation without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it creates an attack surface that can be exploited by any pre-installed application that has obtained signatureOrSystem permissions. This means that if an attacker can compromise one of the pre-installed applications or gain access to a system with these elevated privileges, they can potentially install arbitrary applications on the device without user consent or proper security validation. The threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1103: Application Installation, where adversaries can install applications through legitimate system interfaces. This vulnerability essentially undermines the device's security model by allowing unauthorized package installation through a legitimate system component.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain access to a pre-installed application that has signatureOrSystem permissions, or to compromise an existing pre-installed application that can leverage these permissions. Once achieved, the attacker can utilize the exposed installation capabilities to deploy malicious applications, potentially leading to persistent threats, data exfiltration, or further system compromise. The vulnerability represents a critical failure in Android's security model where system-level capabilities are exposed to applications that should not have such privileges, creating a path for privilege escalation and unauthorized system modification. The risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Samsung XCover4 devices may be used for sensitive operations, as this vulnerability could be leveraged to establish persistent access or deploy malware without detection.