OnePlus Phones comes with Pre-installed Backdoor that Provides Root Access to the Device

OnePlus users under risk again, it comes with the preinstalled backdoor that provides root access to the affected devices.Factory installed app named EngineerMode acts as backdoor at this vulnerability is exploitable only if the attacker has physical access.

Already Remote code Exploitation Found in OnePlus devices that allow hackers can run an arbitrary code on vulnerable OnePlus Mobile Phones.

Security with twitter Handle Elliot Alderson discovered the vulnerable app with OnePlus devices running their own OxygenOS.

With the Device, EngineerMode app enables a debugging mode which gives full root access to the device through ADM command or an APK from play store.

In last July significant vulnerabilities detected on OnePlus One/X/2/3/3T OxygenOS and HydrogenOS, With these vulnerabilities, attackers can achieve a MitM attack and get included in OTA(update process).

NowSecure team decompiled the original .apk and found the valid binary password hash (79a6a933dfc9b1975e444d4e8481c64c771d8ab40b7ac72f8bc1a1bca1718bef) and the hash reversible to string “angela” which allows users to get root access to the phone.

Alderson published the source code of EngineerMode and OpDeviceManager apps on Github for OnePlus Mobiles.

adb shell am start -n com.android .engineeringmode/.qualcomm.DiagEnabled –es “CODE” “PASSWORD”
, where CODE = code and PASSWORD = angela

Also, Alderson said that he is to release an app on the play store to root the OnePlus devices.

Also Read: New Banking Trojan IcedID Evade Sandboxes and Performing Web Injection Attacks

Am I Vulnerable with OnePlus Phone Backdoor

According to  NowSecure team checked with latest versions of OnePlus devices and they are Vulnerable.

OnePlus 3 (OxygenOS 4.5.1, build number ONEPLUS A3003_16_171012)
OnePlus 5 (OxygenOS 4.5.14, build number ONEPLUSA5000_23_171031)

How to Check for Preinstalled app

To check open Settings -> Apps -> Menu -> Show system apps and search EngineerMode in the app list to check.

Carl pei Co-founder said they are looking into the issue, hope they might remove the application in upcoming updates.