Android: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2024-44097 is a critical-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Android from Google, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update nest_doorbell_battery_firmware to 1.73c or a later version.
- Update nest_cam_battery_firmware to 1.73c or a later version.
- Update nest_cam_floodlight_firmware to 1.73c or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.google.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android | Not specified in the record | Not stated | |
| nest_doorbell_battery_firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| nest_cam_battery_firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| nest_cam_floodlight_firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| nest_cam_indoor_firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| Nest Cam (outdoor Or Indoor, Battery) Firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| Nest Cam With Floodlight Firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c | |
| Nest Cam (indoor, Wired) Firmware | before 1.73c | 1.73c |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
According to the researcher: "The TLS connections are encrypted against tampering or eavesdropping. However, the application does not validate the server certificate properly while initializing the TLS connection. This allows for a network attacker to intercept the connection and read the data. The attacker could the either send the client a malicious response, or forward the (possibly modified) data to the real server."
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Android
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
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