Remote Code Execution Discovered in Xtool AnyScan App — Risk...

[carlospolop]

🤖 Automated Content Update

This PR was automatically generated by the HackTricks News Bot based on a technical blog post.

📝 Source Information

• Blog URL: https://www.nowsecure.com/blog/2025/07/16/remote-code-execution-discovered-in-xtool-anyscan-app-risks-to-phones-and-vehicles/
• Blog Title: Remote Code Execution Discovered in Xtool AnyScan App — Risks to Phones and Vehicles
• Suggested Section: generic-hacking/mobile-application-exploitation

🎯 Content Summary

Critical Vulnerabilities in Xtool AnyScan Android App

NowSecure researchers identified critical flaws in the Xtool AnyScan Android app (versions 4.40.11–4.40.40) in its custom in-app update mechanism, enabling a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacker to achieve persistent remote code execution (RCE) on the device and connected vehicles via OBD-II commands.

Custom In-App Update Mechanism

• Plugin Retrieval: The app retrieves over 100 'plugins' on eac...

  🔧 Technical Details

  TLS Certificate Validation Bypass: The app replaces Android’s default TrustManager in com.xtool.diagnostic.fwcom.net.OKHttpDownload.buildTrustManagers() with an empty implementation, accepting all TLS certificates and allowing MITM interception and modification of update metadata.

  Hardcoded Insecure DES Encryption: Update metadata is encrypted using DES-ECB with a hardcoded 56-bit key and IV retrieved from com.xtool.dcloud.RemoteServi...

  🤖 Agent Actions

  Added comprehensive coverage of exploiting insecure in-app update mechanisms on Android:

  1. Created new page
     src/mobile-pentesting/android-app-pentesting/insecure-in-app-update-rce.md
     • Explains TrustManager bypass, weak DES encryption, malicious plugin crafting, mitmproxy delivery & persistence
     • Includes practical code snippets (Java, Python, C, iptables, mitmproxy)
     • General detection / mitigation guidance
     • Reference section with the NowSecure research link

  2. Updated Android App Pentesting README to link the new technique under “Other interesting tricks”.

  These additions extend HackTricks’ mobile-exploitation content with a real-world RCE chain applicable to any Android app that downloads executable code insecurely.

  ✅ Review Checklist

  • Content is technically accurate
  • Formatting follows HackTricks style guidelines
  • Links and references are working
  • Content adds educational value
  • No sensitive information is exposed

  ---

  This PR was automatically created by the HackTricks Feed Bot. Please review the changes carefully before merging.

[carlospolop]

🔗 Additional Context

Original Blog Post: https://www.nowsecure.com/blog/2025/07/16/remote-code-execution-discovered-in-xtool-anyscan-app-risks-to-phones-and-vehicles/

Content Categories: Based on the analysis, this content was categorized under "generic-hacking/mobile-application-exploitation".

Repository Maintenance:

• MD Files Formatting: 854 files processed

Review Notes:

• This content was automatically processed and may require human review for accuracy
• Check that the placement within the repository structure is appropriate
• Verify that all technical details are correct and up-to-date
• All .md files have been checked for proper formatting (headers, includes, etc.)

Bot Version: HackTricks News Bot v1.0

[carlospolop]

merge