CVE-2021-31573
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-31573 is a command injection vulnerability in MediaTek Config Manager that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands without authentication. This could lead to full system compromise on affected devices. The vulnerability affects MediaTek-based devices running vulnerable versions of the Config Manager software.
💻 Affected Systems
- MediaTek Config Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system takeover with root privileges, allowing installation of persistent malware, data theft, and device compromise.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it trivial to exploit once the attack vector is understood.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Patched in update A20210009
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-acknowledgements
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for available security updates. 2. Apply MediaTek security patch A20210009. 3. Reboot device after patch installation. 4. Verify patch installation through version checking.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Access Restriction
linuxRestrict network access to devices running MediaTek Config Manager
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport [CONFIG_MANAGER_PORT] -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport [CONFIG_MANAGER_PORT] -j DROP
Service Disablement
androidDisable MediaTek Config Manager service if not required
pm disable com.mediatek.configmanager
stop configmanager_service
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment affected devices into isolated network zones with strict firewall rules
- Implement network monitoring and intrusion detection for Config Manager traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if MediaTek Config Manager is running and check version against known vulnerable releases. Use: 'ps -A | grep configmanager' and 'dumpsys package com.mediatek.configmanager | grep version'Check Version:
dumpsys package com.mediatek.configmanager | grep versionNameVerify Fix Applied:
Verify patch A20210009 is installed and Config Manager version is updated. Check security patch level with: 'getprop ro.build.version.security_patch'📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual process execution from Config Manager context
- Suspicious command execution patterns in system logs
- Unexpected network connections from Config Manager service
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected traffic to/from Config Manager ports
- Suspicious payloads in Config Manager protocol
SIEM Query:
source="system_logs" AND process="configmanager" AND (command="*sh*" OR command="*bash*" OR command="*cmd*")