CVE-2023-29724 in BT21 x BTS Wallpaper App
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2023
The BT21 x BTS Wallpaper app 12 for Android allows unauthorized apps to actively request permission to modify data in the database that records information about a user's personal preferences and will be loaded into memory to be read and used when the app is opened. An attacker could tamper with this data to cause an escalation of privilege attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29724 resides within the BT21 x BTS Wallpaper application version 12 for Android platforms, presenting a significant security risk through improper permission handling mechanisms. This flaw allows malicious applications to exploit the app's database modification permissions, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation that could lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability specifically targets the database structure that stores user preference information, which serves as a critical component in the application's functionality and user experience customization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control measures within the Android application's permission model. The app's design permits external applications to request and potentially obtain permissions that should be restricted to the legitimate application only. This misconfiguration enables an attacker to manipulate the database entries containing personal preference data, which gets loaded into memory during application execution. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks, where the application fails to properly validate whether incoming requests originate from trusted sources or legitimate application components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for user privacy and system integrity. The database containing personal preference information may include sensitive data such as color scheme preferences, wallpaper choices, and other customizable settings that reflect user behavior patterns. When an attacker successfully manipulates this data, they can potentially gain elevated privileges within the application context, allowing them to access features or data that should remain restricted. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption, as the modified preferences could be leveraged to create more sophisticated attacks or maintain persistent access to the application's functionality.
The security implications of CVE-2023-29724 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it could be weaponized by attackers with basic mobile security knowledge. The attack vector involves leveraging the application's permission system to gain unauthorized write access to the preference database, which then enables the attacker to modify critical application state information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access control mechanisms within the application's Android manifest file, ensuring that database modification permissions are restricted to the application's own processes only. Developers should implement robust input validation and authentication checks before allowing any database modifications, while also employing proper sandboxing techniques to isolate application components. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that permission declarations align with the application's actual operational requirements, and that no unnecessary permissions are granted that could be exploited by malicious applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following Android security best practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive application data structures.