• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 

U.S. CISA urges to immediately patch Microsoft SharePoint flaw adding it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Microsoft issues emergency patches for SharePoint zero-days exploited in "ToolShell" attacks

 | 

SharePoint zero-day CVE-2025-53770 actively exploited in the wild

 | 

Singapore warns China-linked group UNC3886 targets its critical infrastructure

 | 

U.S. CISA adds Fortinet FortiWeb flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 54

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 533 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 

Radiology Associates of Richmond data breach impacts 1.4 million people

 | 

Fortinet FortiWeb flaw CVE-2025-25257 exploited hours after PoC release

 | 

Authorities released free decryptor for Phobos and 8base ransomware

 | 

Anne Arundel Dermatology data breach impacts 1.9 million people

 | 

LameHug: first AI-Powered malware linked to Russia’s APT28

 | 

5 Features Every AI-Powered SOC Platform Needs in 2025

 | 

Broadcom patches critical VMware flaws exploited at Pwn2Own Berlin 2025

 | 

Stormous Ransomware gang targets North Country HealthCare, claims 600K patient data stolen

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Hacking
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • CVE-2019-2114 flaw allows hackers to plant malware on Android devices via NFC beaming

CVE-2019-2114 flaw allows hackers to plant malware on Android devices via NFC beaming

Pierluigi Paganini November 02, 2019

A vulnerability affecting devices running Andoid 8 (Oreo) or later, tracked as CVE-2019-2114, could be exploited by hackers to infect them via NFC beaming.

Google has recently released a patch to address a vulnerability affecting devices running Android 8 (Oreo) or later, tracked as CVE-2019-2114, that could be exploited to infect nearby phones via NFC beaming.

The Android Beam feature is available in the Android NFC framework and allows users to transfer large files between devices. The feature implements a simple API and allows users to start the transfer process by simply touching devices, then Android Beam file transfer automatically copies files from one device to the other and notifies the user when it’s finished.

When transferring APK files via NFC beaming, they are stored on disk and a notification is displayed to the users asking them permission to allow the NFC service to install an app from an unknown source.

Earlier this year, security expert Y. Shafranovich discovered sending APK files via NFC beaming on Android 8 or later versions would not display any security warning to the users. The researcher noticed that notification would allow the user to install the app with just one tap.

This behavior stems from the ability to allow specific apps to install other apps in the most recent version of the Android OS and Android Beam has the same level of trust as the official Play Store app this means that it could allow installing any app from an unknown source.

Clearly, it was an unwanted behavior that Google fixed with October 2019 Android patches. The patch removed the Android Beam service from the OS whitelist of trusted sources.

Experts pointed out that an impressive number of Android devices having both NFC and the Android Beam services enabled could be compromised, a nearby attacker could exploit the CVE-2019-2114 flaw to plant malware on vulnerable phones.

“In Android 8 (Oreo) a new feature was introduced that requires users to opt-in to the “Install unknown apps” permission on a app by app basis. However, it appears that any system application that is signed by Google will be automatically whitelisted and would not prompt the user for this permission. On a standard Android OS device, the NFC service is one such system application that has the permission to install other applications.” reads the analysis published by NightWatchCybersecurity “This means, that an Android phone that has NFC and Android Beam enabled, then touching a malicious phone or a malicious NFC payment terminal to the device may allow malware to be installed by bypassing the “install unknown apps” prompt.”

Even is the NFC feature is enabled by default on new Android devices, in order to transfer a file via NFC the attacker has to at a distance of 4 cm (1.5 inches) or smaller, an attack scenario that is not always feasible.

[adrotate banner=”9″] [adrotate banner=”12″]

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – CVE-2019-2114, hacking)

[adrotate banner=”5″]

[adrotate banner=”13″]


facebook linkedin twitter

Android CVE-2019-2114 Hacking information security news malware NFC Pierluigi Paganini Security Affairs Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2025
Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2025
SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

    Security / July 22, 2025

    MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

    APT / July 21, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT