CVE-2019-16253 in Text-to-speech Engine App
Summary
by MITRE
The Text-to-speech Engine (aka SamsungTTS) application before 3.0.02.7 and 3.0.00.101 for Android allows a local attacker to escalate privileges, e.g., to system privileges. The Samsung case ID is 101755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16253 affects the Text-to-speech Engine application known as SamsungTTS on Android devices. This flaw exists in versions prior to 3.0.02.7 and 3.0.00.101, representing a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that allows local attackers to gain system-level privileges. The vulnerability was tracked internally by Samsung under case ID 101755, highlighting its significance within the vendor's security assessment framework. The affected component operates as a system service that processes text-to-speech functionality, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks due to its elevated system permissions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling within the SamsungTTS application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the text-to-speech engine's behavior to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. The flaw likely involves improper access control mechanisms or insecure parameter handling that allows unauthorized code execution within the context of a privileged process. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically targeting the improper handling of system-level resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local attackers to gain complete system control over affected Android devices. Once exploited, the attacker can access all system resources, modify critical system files, install malicious applications, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Samsung devices running vulnerable Android versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where device management and security are paramount. The local nature of the attack means that no network connectivity is required for exploitation, making it more accessible and harder to detect through traditional network monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16253 primarily involve updating the SamsungTTS application to versions 3.0.02.7 or 3.0.00.101 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive timely updates. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as monitoring for unusual system activity and restricting unnecessary system permissions for applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege separation and input validation in system services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other system components and maintain awareness of related vulnerabilities that may present similar attack vectors.