In several Android systems, a critical vulnerability (CVE-2018-9464) has been found, which potentially allows unprivileged applications running on a device to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in protected files. This issue could lead to a local escalation of privilege that requires no additional execution privileges. Also, user interaction is not needed for the exploit to work.
In this post, we will analyze the CVE-2018-9464 vulnerability in detail, understand how it works, and discuss its implications for affected users and developers. We will also provide code samples and links to original sources and references to help you better understand the issue.
Exploit Details
The vulnerability CVE-2018-9464 stems from a missing permission check in multiple locations within the Android system. This oversight allows untrusted applications to read protected files that they should not be able to access.
For instance, private application files or system configurations containing sensitive data such as passwords and encryption keys can be accessed by malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability, compromising the user's privacy and the device's security.
Here is a code snippet that shows how an untrusted application could exploit this vulnerability to read the contents of a protected file:
try {
FileInputStream fileInputStream = new FileInputStream("/data/local/protected_file");
InputStreamReader inputStreamReader = new InputStreamReader(fileInputStream);
BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(inputStreamReader);
StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
String line;
while ((line = bufferedReader.readLine()) != null) {
stringBuilder.append(line);
}
String protectedFileContent = stringBuilder.toString();
Log.d("UntrustedApp", "Protected file content: " + protectedFileContent);
} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
Log.e("UntrustedApp", "File not found. ", e);
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.e("UntrustedApp", "Error reading protected file. ", e);
}
This code snippet demonstrates how an unprivileged application can exploit the missing permission check to read the contents of a protected file located at /data/local/protected_file. The obtained sensitive information could then be used for malicious purposes, such as unauthorized access to user data, or to compromise the device's security.
Here are some important links to the original references for this vulnerability
1. NVD (National Vulnerability Database) - CVE-2018-9464
2. Android Security Bulletin - August 2018
3. Android Git Repository - platform/system/core
Implications and Mitigation
This vulnerability, if exploited, can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data on affected devices. Device manufacturers and developers must ensure that their devices are updated with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Users should ensure that their devices are running the latest software updates to protect themselves from this vulnerability. Avoid installing untrusted applications from unknown sources, as they may attempt to exploit CVE-2018-9464 to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data on your device.
Conclusion
CVE-2018-9464 is a critical vulnerability found in multiple Android systems that could lead to a local escalation of privilege and unauthorized access to sensitive data. It is essential for developers, manufacturers, and users to keep their software up-to-date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability and protect their devices from potential attacks.
In this post, we provided an overview of the vulnerability, explained how it could be exploited, and shared code snippets and important references to help you better understand the issue. Please stay vigilant, keep your devices updated, and be cautious with the apps you install to protect your data and your device from security threats like CVE-2018-9464.
Timeline
Published on: 01/18/2025 00:15:25 UTC
Last modified on: 01/21/2025 16:15:12 UTC