CVE-2026-49189 in Connect M6E 5G Portable WiFi Router
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2026
Unchecked public access permissions on a core Broadcast Receiver allow unauthorized local software components to invoke administrative operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Android application design where a core broadcast receiver lacks proper permission validation, creating an attack surface that allows any local application to execute administrative functions without authorization. The flaw stems from improper implementation of the android:exported attribute in the AndroidManifest.xml file, which when set to true without appropriate permission controls, exposes sensitive components to the entire system. According to CWE-284, this constitutes an improper access control vulnerability where the broadcast receiver serves as an entry point for privilege escalation attacks. The technical implementation involves a broadcast receiver component that handles system-level operations such as device administration, network configuration changes, or data manipulation commands, yet fails to validate the calling application's permissions or identity before executing sensitive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables malicious applications to perform administrative functions that should be restricted to system-level or privileged applications only. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various means including installing a malicious application that sends broadcast intents to the vulnerable receiver, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor establishment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques, and T1547 which covers registry run keys and startup folder modifications. The risk is particularly severe in environments where multiple applications are installed, as the vulnerable receiver becomes an attack vector for any application that can access the system's broadcast mechanism, potentially allowing for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire device's security posture.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary fix involves setting the android:exported attribute to false in the AndroidManifest.xml file for broadcast receivers that should not be accessible from other applications, or implementing proper permission checks using the Context.checkPermission() method before executing administrative operations. Additional protections include implementing signature-level permissions that restrict access to only applications signed with the same certificate, utilizing the android:permission attribute to define specific access controls, and implementing proper input validation and sanitization for any data received through the broadcast receiver. Organizations should also implement security code reviews that specifically check for exported components, conduct regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities, and establish secure coding practices that follow the principle of least privilege. The solution must also include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all system-level operations require explicit verification of the calling application's authorization level through the Android permission system.