CVE-2024-49736: Uncovering a Logic Error in MainClear.java that Allows Unauthorized Factory Reset

The world of cybersecurity is an ever-evolving landscape, with new vulnerabilities and exploits being discovered on a regular basis. One recently discovered vulnerability is that of CVE-2024-49736, a logic error found in MainClear.java which allows for an unauthorized factory reset without user consent. In this extensive post, we'll break down the details of this vulnerability, provide code snippets showcasing the issue, and link to original references so you can further understand and protect your systems.

Exploit Details

In MainClear.java, responsible for handling user data and settings, there is a logic error that enables the app to trigger a factory reset without explicit user consent. The vulnerability arises from a lack of proper validation or confirmation steps before the factory reset process is initiated. This enables an attacker to exploit the vulnerability and cause a denial of service, wreaking havoc on the user's device.

The following code snippet demonstrates the logic error in MainClear.java

public class MainClear extends Activity {
    Button main_clear;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main_clear);

        main_clear = (Button) findViewById(R.id.mainclear_btn);
        main_clear.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                factoryReset();
            }
        });
    }

    private void factoryReset() {
        // Code to perform factory reset
    }
}

As we can see, the onClick event of the main_clear button triggers the factoryReset() function directly. This means that there is no validation or confirmation step before initiating the factory reset process, leading to a potential security issue.

Original References

For an in-depth understanding of the issue and suggested mitigation strategies, refer to the following links:

1. Official CVE Details at NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2. Android Developer Documentation on Data and Identity Security

Mitigation Strategies

To remediate the vulnerability, it's crucial to implement proper validation and confirmation steps before allowing a factory reset. This could be accomplished by adding a user prompt to ensure that they explicitly consent to the factory reset process. See the revised code snippet below:

public class MainClear extends Activity {
    Button main_clear;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main_clear);

        main_clear = (Button) findViewById(R.id.mainclear_btn);
        main_clear.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                showConfirmationDialog();
            }
        });
    }

    private void showConfirmationDialog() {
        // Display confirmation dialog
        // If the user agrees, execute factoryReset() method
    }

    private void factoryReset() {
        // Code to perform factory reset
    }
}

By implementing a confirmation dialog like shown above, the vulnerability is mitigated, and an attacker can no longer trigger a factory reset without explicit user consent.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-49736 provides a valuable lesson in the importance of thorough code review and testing to ensure no logic errors are overlooked. Precautionary measures like prompting users for confirmation and adhering to best-practices in coding will contribute significantly to maintaining robust security within applications. By staying informed of the latest vulnerabilities and utilizing proper mitigation strategies, both developers and users can improve the overall security of their devices and protect their valuable data.

Timeline

Published on: 01/21/2025 23:15:14 UTC
Last modified on: 03/24/2025 16:15:19 UTC