# CVE-2018-14987: Missing authorization in n/a

> Any app can trigger a factory reset on the device due to an unprotected broadcast receiver, causing data loss.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5hg9-jp4c-7gph

## What is CVE-2018-14987?

CVE-2018-14987 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Dec 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The MXQ TV Box 4.4.2 Android device with a build fingerprint of MBX/m201_N/m201_N:4.4.2/KOT49H/20160106:user/test-keys contains the Android framework with a package name of android (versionCode=19, versionName=4.4.2-20170213) that dynamically registers a broadcast receiver app component named com.android.server.MasterClearReceiver instead of statically registering it in the AndroidManifest.xml file of the core Android package, as done in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code for Android 4.4.2. The dynamic-registration of the MasterClearReceiver broadcast receiver app component is not protected with the android.permission.MASTER_CLEAR permission during registration, so any app co-located on the device, even those without any permissions, can programmatically initiate a factory reset of the device. A factory reset will remove all user data and apps from the device. This will result in the loss of any data that have not been backed up or synced externally. The capability to perform a factory reset is not directly available to third-party apps (those that the user installs themselves with the exception of enabled Mobile Device Management (MDM) apps), although this capability can be obtained by leveraging an unprotected app component of core Android process.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-14987?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mxq Project Mxq Tv Box Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-14987?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-14987 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-14987 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14987 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-14988](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14988/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-14987 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-14987 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Dec 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14987 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14987/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14987/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14987
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14987
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-14987

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14987/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.