Root access via SUID developer-mode file write
Published Mar 4, 2025 · Updated Mar 4, 2025
Privilege escalation in PocketBook InkPad Color 3 U743k3.6.8.3671 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain root access. The sreader-owned SUID iv2sh utility lets locally executed code write /mnt/secure/developer_mode, and the USB init script treats that file's presence as authorization to start Dropbear with root privileges. Exploitation requires physical access to copy and manually launch an application on the e-reader; after a reboot, the attacker can connect to the root SSH service over USB tethering.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in PocketBook InkPad Color 3 U743k3.6.8.3671 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain root access. The sreader-owned SUID iv2sh utility lets locally executed code write /mnt/secure/developer_mode, and the USB init script treats that file's presence as authorization to start Dropbear with root privileges. Exploitation requires physical access to copy and manually launch an application on the e-reader; after a reboot, the attacker can connect to the root SSH service over USB tethering.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-1424
- Published
- Mar 4, 2025
- Updated
- Mar 4, 2025
- Vendor
- PocketBook International
- Product
- PocketBook InkPad Color 3
- Classifications
- CWE-269, CAPEC-233, T1548.001
- Attack vector
- physical
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=U743k3.6.8.3671
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- iv2sh developer-mode proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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