CVE-2024-48540 is an access control vulnerability identified in XIAO HE Smart version 4.3.1. The flaw arises due to improper authorization checks within the application, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information by analyzing the APK file's code and embedded data. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, but the attacker must have local access to the device or environment where the APK is stored. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level, with a vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). This vulnerability falls under CWE-863, which relates to incorrect authorization, meaning the application fails to enforce proper access controls on sensitive resources. No patches or fixes have been released as of the publication date, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by exposing sensitive information that could be leveraged for further attacks or data breaches. Since the attack requires local access, the risk is higher in environments where devices or APK files are accessible to untrusted users or malware. The lack of required authentication or user interaction increases the risk of automated or stealthy data extraction once local access is obtained.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-48540 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information contained within the XIAO HE Smart APK file. This can lead to data breaches, leakage of proprietary or personal data, and potential reconnaissance for further attacks. Organizations using this software may face confidentiality compromises, which could damage reputation, violate compliance requirements, or expose users to privacy risks. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not directly enable data manipulation or service disruption. However, the exposed information could be used by attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks or escalate privileges. The requirement for local access limits the attack surface to insiders, compromised devices, or scenarios where attackers gain physical or logical access to the environment. This makes the vulnerability particularly relevant for organizations with shared devices, weak endpoint security, or insufficient access controls on stored application files.

To mitigate CVE-2024-48540, organizations should implement strict access controls on devices and storage locations containing the XIAO HE Smart APK files to prevent unauthorized local access. Employ endpoint security solutions that monitor and restrict unauthorized file access or extraction activities. Use application hardening techniques such as code obfuscation and encryption to reduce the risk of sensitive data exposure through APK analysis. Regularly audit and monitor device access logs for suspicious activity indicating attempts to analyze or extract APK contents. Since no official patch is available yet, maintain close communication with the vendor for updates and apply patches promptly once released. Additionally, educate users and administrators about the risks of local file exposure and enforce policies that limit physical and logical access to sensitive devices. Consider deploying mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and control application storage access. Finally, conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses in other applications or systems.