CVE-2019-15454 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

The Samsung J4 Android device is affected by a vulnerability that allows pre-installed apps to carry out app installations through an accessible app component.

Understanding CVE-2019-15454

What is CVE-2019-15454?

The Samsung J4 Android device with a specific build fingerprint contains a pre-installed app that enables other pre-installed apps to perform app installations via an accessible app component.

The Impact of CVE-2019-15454

This vulnerability allows any pre-installed app on the device to access the capability of installing apps, potentially leading to unauthorized app installations.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-15454

Vulnerability Description

The pre-installed app com.samsung.android.themecenter app on the Samsung J4 device allows unauthorized app installations by other pre-installed apps.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Samsung J4 Android device
Vendor: Samsung
Version: 8.0.0, Build fingerprint: samsung/j4lteub/j4lte:8.0.0/R16NW/J400MUBU2ARL4:user/release-keys

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by pre-installed apps with the necessary permissions to access the app installation capability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor app installations for any unauthorized activity.
Restrict permissions for pre-installed apps to prevent unauthorized installations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the device's firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement app whitelisting to control which apps can be installed.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Samsung to address this vulnerability.