this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024

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Nearly All Google Pixel Phones Exposed by Unpatched Flaw in Hidden Android App (www.wired.com)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Mirror: https://web.archive.org/web/20240815141445/https://www.wired.com/story/google-android-pixel-showcase-vulnerability/

top 22 comments

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 2 months ago (1 children)

iVerify vice president of research Matthias Frielingsdorf points out that while Showcase represents a concerning exposure for Pixel devices, it is turned off by default. This means that an attacker would first need to turn the application on in a target's device before being able to exploit it. The most straightforward way to do this would involve having physical access to a victim's phone as well as their system password or another exploitable vulnerability that would allow them to make changes to settings.

Just a bit of alarmism then, with something that can be easily removed in an update.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Not only can it be removed, they've already said it going to happen soon.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The story isn't nearly as dramatic as it seems. Maybe this thread can offer some nuance: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/112967309987371034

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Thanks for sharing!

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (3 children)

The issue relates to a software package called “Showcase.apk” that runs at the system level and lurks invisible to users. The application was developed by the enterprise software company Smith Micro for Verizon as a mechanism for putting phones into a retail store demo mode—it is not Google software. Yet for years, it has been in each Android release for Pixel and has deep system privileges, including remote code execution and remote software installation. Even riskier, the application is designed to download a configuration file over an unencrypted HTTP web connection that iVerify researchers say could be hijacked by an attacker to take control of the application and then the entire victim device.

"flaw"

any idea if de-google phones have this "feature"

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago

The app isn't enabled by default so stock Pixels aren't even vulnerable without physical access to an unlocked device.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

I couldn't find the APK on my pixel 5 running lineage so I think only stock-based roms should be affected. I checked using an APK extractor app that lists all system apps including things like 3 button navigation bar.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

GrapheneOS doesn't include this, along with many other unnecessary carrier apps

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I have doubts that this apk is enabled and running on all pixels, it's especially not on custom roms such as Graphene (I just checked my own).

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

The GrapheneOS guys also explained why this isn't nearly as bad as it sounds, and how Wired is simply fearmongering: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/112967309987371034

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, doesn't look like it affects GrapheneOS. More validation of my choice to run Graphene I guess.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm too stupid to install it. Would've liked to plonk it on my old tablet instead of throwing it into the trash.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's only compatible with modern Pixel devices, so unless you're old tablet is a Google Pixel Tablet, you can't install it anyway. But the installer is super easy to use (if you have a compatible device). It's literally all in your web browser.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's an old Xperia Z4 and there's a few custom images on the forums. But the "how to" suggest using a tool that does not even exist in that version and is otherwise so sparse on information that I gave up after that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't recommend installing random builds from forums like XDA. GrapheneOS definitely doesn't have an official version for anything other than Pixels, you might want to try LineageOS if you want to throw the tablet out anyway

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

you might want to try LineageOS

Same thing there basically.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh man, I just looked up the Xperia Z4 and noticed that it's like 10 years old. Can't say that I'm surprised that there are basically no ROMs.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago

Well, yes - what else am I going to install a custom rom on other than a device that is no longer receiving actual system updates but still works fine? And as I said, there are a couple roms on the forums, just with very lacking installation instructions.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Kind of a nothing burger

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

All these updates and they let this get by. That's pretty ridiculous.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don't let this misleading Wired article fearmonger you. I recommend this thread, which provides some nuance to this drama: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/112967805820394815

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Many thanks. I'll check it out.