CVE-2018-14991 [Critical] | Input Validation Bypass in Defiant Firmware

The Coolpad Defiant device with a build fingerprint of Coolpad/cp3632a/cp3632a:7.1.1/NMF26F/099480857:user/release-keys, the ZTE ZMAX Pro with a build fingerprint of ZTE/P895T20/urd:6.0.1/MMB29M/20170418.114928:user/release-keys, and the T-Mobile Revvl Plus with a build fingerprint of Coolpad/alchemy/alchemy:7.1.1/143.14.171129.3701A-TMO/buildf_nj_02-206:user/release-keys all contain a vulnerable, pre-installed Rich Communication Services (RCS) app. These devices contain an that app has a package name of com.suntek.mway.rcs.app.service (versionCode=1, versionName=RCS_sdk_M_native_20161008_01; versionCode=1, versionName=RCS_sdk_M_native_20170406_01) with an exported content provider named com.suntek.mway.rcs.app.service.provider.message.MessageProvider and a refactored version of the app with a package name of com.rcs.gsma.na.sdk (versionCode=1, versionName=RCS_SDK_20170804_01) with a content provider named com.rcs.gsma.na.provider.message.MessageProvider allow any app co-located on the device to read, write, insert, and modify the user's text messages. This is enabled by an exported content provider app component that serves as a wrapper to the official content provider that contains the user's text messages. This app cannot be disabled by the user and the attack can be performed by a zero-permission app.

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Exploit-DB ↗

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2025-03-30	1.02%	0.53%	-0.50%
2	2025-03-29	0.53%	1.02%	+0.50%
3	2025-03-17	—	0.53%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2025-03-30

1.02%

0.53%

-0.50%

2025-03-29

0.53%

1.02%

+0.50%

2025-03-17

—

0.53%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
9.8	3.0	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	3.9	5.9	[email protected]
7.5	2.0	HIGH	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P` Click to expand Access vector (AV:N) Can be exploited remotely over network reachability. Access complexity (AC:L) Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable. Authentication (AU:N) No authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:P) Partial confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:P) Partial integrity impact. Availability impact (A:P) Partial availability impact.	10.0	6.4	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

9.8

3.0

CRITICAL

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L): Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

3.9

5.9

[email protected]

7.5

2.0

HIGH

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P Click to expand

Access vector (AV:N): Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:L): Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N): No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P): Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:P): Partial integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P): Partial availability impact.

10.0

6.4

[email protected]

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2018-14991

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
coolpad	defiant_firmware	—	cpe:2.3:o:coolpad:defiant_firmware:-:::::::*
t-mobile	revvl_plus_firmware	—	cpe:2.3:o:t-mobile:revvl_plus_firmware:-:::::::*
t-mobile	zte_zmax_pro_firmware	—	cpe:2.3:o:t-mobile:zte_zmax_pro_firmware:-:::::::*

References for CVE-2018-14991

URL	Tags
https://www.kryptowire.com	Third Party Advisory
https://www.kryptowire.com/portal/android-firmware-defcon-2018/	Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://www.kryptowire.com/portal/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/DEFCON-26-Johnson-and-Stavrou-Vulnerable-Out-of-the-Box-An-Eval-of-Android-Carrier-Devices-WP-Updated.pdf	Third Party Advisory

URL

CVE-2018-14991

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2018-14991

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2018-14991

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2018-14991

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2018-14991

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2018-14991

References for CVE-2018-14991