Command Injection in SIMalliance Toolbox Browser (CVE‑2019‑16256) Risks Remote IMEI & Location Disclosure
What It Is — The SIMalliance Toolbox Browser contains a command‑injection flaw (CVE‑2019‑16256) that lets an unauthenticated attacker inject arbitrary commands via a crafted message. Successful exploitation can disclose device location, IMEI, or enable further attacks on the host system.
Exploitability — Remote, unauthenticated exploitation is possible; public PoC code exists. CVSS v3.1 base score 7.8 (High).
Affected Products — SIMalliance Toolbox Browser (all versions prior to the vendor’s June 2020 patch).
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Tests the control objective of application security – input validation and command execution controls, a common requirement across many compliance frameworks.
- Underscores the importance of continuous vulnerability monitoring as defensible evidence for auditors.
- Shows how an unpatched component can weaken a vendor’s trust posture, impacting downstream telecom operators that depend on the tool.
Recommended Actions
- Inventory every instance of the SIMalliance Toolbox Browser in your environment.
- Deploy the vendor‑issued patch or upgrade to the latest release immediately.
- Verify that all inbound message fields are properly sanitized; consider a WAF rule as a compensating control.
- Capture remediation evidence (patch version, scan results) for audit trails.
- Map this finding to your framework’s “secure coding / input validation” control objective and record remediation status.
Source: CISA KEV – CVE‑2019‑16256