CVE-2019-1010221 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

LineageOS 16.0 and previous versions are affected by an Incorrect Access Control vulnerability that allows unauthorized configuration of the property checked by

adb root

in a regular adb shell session. Attackers with physical access can exploit this to execute commands as root.

Understanding CVE-2019-1010221

LineageOS 16.0 and earlier versions are susceptible to an Incorrect Access Control issue, enabling unauthorized manipulation of

adb root

property in a standard adb shell session.

What is CVE-2019-1010221?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in LineageOS versions 16.0 and earlier, allowing attackers physical access to execute commands as root by modifying the

adb root

property.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1010221

The vulnerability permits unauthorized users to configure the

adb root

property in a regular adb shell session, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1010221

LineageOS 16.0 and earlier versions are affected by an Incorrect Access Control vulnerability, with the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

LineageOS 16.0 and previous versions are prone to Incorrect Access Control.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: LineageOS
Vendor: LineageOS
Versions: 16.0 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with physical access can execute the command

adb shell setprop service.adb.root 1

to restart adb as root.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-1010221, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable adb when not in use to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly monitor and restrict physical access to devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong device encryption to protect sensitive data.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by LineageOS to fix the vulnerability and enhance device security.