CVE-2019-5682 in Shield TV Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA Shield TV Experience prior to v8.0, contains a vulnerability in the NVIDIA Games App where it improperly exports an Activity but does not properly restrict which applications can launch the Activity, which may lead to code execution or denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5682 affects the NVIDIA Shield TV Experience software platform prior to version 8.0, specifically within the NVIDIA Games App component. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper activity export configuration within the Android application framework. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient access control mechanisms that govern which applications can invoke specific system components, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw manifests as an improperly exported Android Activity within the Games App that lacks proper intent filtering or permission restrictions. This misconfiguration allows any application installed on the device to launch the vulnerable Activity without proper authentication or authorization checks. According to CWE-284, this constitutes an improper access control vulnerability where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on exported components. The vulnerability directly relates to the Android security model's component exposure mechanisms, where Activities, Services, and BroadcastReceivers can be exported to allow cross-application communication but must be properly secured when doing so.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential code execution and denial of service scenarios. An attacker could leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Games App, potentially gaining access to sensitive system resources or user data. The denial of service aspect could allow malicious applications to disrupt normal system operations by triggering crashes or resource exhaustion through the vulnerable Activity interface. This vulnerability particularly affects the Android-based NVIDIA Shield TV platform, which is designed for home entertainment and gaming, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise media streaming devices.
Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation could involve executing malicious code through the compromised Activity. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the affected platform is designed for continuous operation and user interaction, providing persistent access opportunities for threat actors. Organizations implementing NVIDIA Shield TV systems should consider this vulnerability in their overall security posture, particularly in environments where device security is paramount. The remediation requires updating to NVIDIA Shield TV Experience version 8.0 or later, which includes proper access control measures and intent filtering for exported components. Additionally, system administrators should implement network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit potential exploitation vectors and reduce the attack surface of affected devices.