CVE-2020-6869 in apk
Summary
by MITRE
All versions up to 10.06 of ZTEMarket APK are impacted by an information leak vulnerability. Due to Activity Component exposure users can exploit this vulnerability to get the private cookie and execute silent installation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6869 affects ZTEMarket APK versions prior to 10.06, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that compromises user privacy and system integrity. This vulnerability stems from improper exposure of activity components within the application, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to access sensitive user data. The flaw specifically allows unauthorized access to private cookies that are typically protected by the application's security mechanisms, thereby undermining the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions. This information leak vulnerability directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, particularly the category of sensitive data exposure, and aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling and component visibility.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of exposed activity components that should normally be restricted to internal application use only. When users interact with these improperly exposed components, attackers can extract private cookies that contain session identifiers, authentication tokens, and other sensitive data required for maintaining user authentication states. These cookies typically contain information that allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability enables what security researchers classify as a privilege escalation attack pattern, where attackers can leverage the exposed components to elevate their access level within the application. This type of attack maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and represents a significant threat to application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential unauthorized application installation capabilities. The ability to execute silent installations through this vulnerability creates a severe threat vector that allows attackers to deploy malicious applications without user consent or awareness. This silent installation capability represents a sophisticated attack pattern that can be leveraged for malware distribution, data exfiltration, or further system compromise. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor that enables attackers to install arbitrary applications, potentially including banking trojans, spyware, or other malicious software that can persist on the device and continue to operate even after the initial exploitation. This threat landscape aligns with the broader category of mobile malware attacks described in the Mobile Security Framework (MobSF) and represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through proper component access control implementation and comprehensive security testing. Application developers must ensure that all activity components are properly secured using android:exported attributes and appropriate intent filters that restrict access to internal application components only. The implementation of proper access control mechanisms should follow the principle of least privilege, where components are only accessible to authorized applications or users with legitimate business requirements. Security testing should include comprehensive penetration testing of component exposure and proper authentication mechanisms to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions that can detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to sensitive components. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to ensure that security controls remain effective against evolving attack techniques. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources and the importance of keeping applications updated with the latest security patches.