Airscanner Mobile Security Advisory #05083102:
Spb Kiosk Engine Program Bypass
Product:
Kiosk Engine 1.0.0.1
Platform:
Tested on Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003
Requirements:
Mobile device running Windows Mobile Pocket PC with Kiosk Engine 1.0.0.1
installed
Credits:
Seth Fogie
Airscanner Mobile Security
http://www.airscanner.com
Mobile Antivirus Researchers Association
http://www.mobileav.org
August 30 2005
Risk Level:
Medium. Local attacker gains unauthorized control over device.
Summary:
Spb Kiosk Engine allows you to run your custom application(s) in kiosk mode. In
this mode, the target applications are the only ones that can be used on a
specific Pocket PC device.
Details:
The core Kiosk Engine is executed from the \windows\startup folder when the PDA
boots. This ensures that the device is locked down and basically keeps a person
from using other programs on the PDA. However, it is still possible to execute
programs via 'features' of the running appliaction (eg. Pocket Word will
execute programs via hyperlink - file://\windows\calc.exe). In addition,
autorun is still enabled on the devices, which allows anyone with a SD Card or
CF card to execute their own code on the device. Using this backdoor, we were
able to overwrite the administrator passcode and alternately, remove the
KioskEngine software altogether.
Workaround:
Disable autorun on the device by placing an autorun.exe file in the \windows
directory with read-only options.
Vendor Response
Waiting response.
Weblinks for advisories 05083101 and 05083102
http://www.airscanner.com/security/05083101_kioskpass.htm
http://www.airscanner.com/security/05083102_kioskremove.htm
Copyright (c) 2005 Airscanner Corp.
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Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the
time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the
information constitutes acceptance for use on an AS IS condition. There are no
warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the
publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss
or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.
