Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is an old Kindle Touch command-injection issue. On firmware before 5.1.2, a crafted string passed through Amazon Lab126's sendEvent implementation could trigger arbitrary command execution. Business urgency is mainly for organizations that still own or manage legacy Kindle Touch devices in sensitive environments.
Executive priority
Prioritize this only where legacy Kindle Touch devices remain in use. The flaw is serious for an affected device, but the known product scope is narrow and no active exploitation is cited.
Technical view
CVE-2012-4249 affects Amazon Lab126 com.lab126.system sendEvent on Kindle Touch before 5.1.2. The CVE states shell metacharacters in a string can lead to arbitrary command execution, demonstrated through setting an LIPC property. It is distinct from CVE-2012-4248.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Kindle Touch devices running firmware earlier than 5.1.2. The source bundle does not identify other affected Amazon devices, enterprise software, CPEs, or modern Kindle models.
Exploitation context
The CVE describes context-dependent attackers and a public demonstration path, but the bundle does not show active exploitation. It is not listed as KEV. Treat exploitation claims beyond the cited demonstration as unproven.
Researcher notes
The strongest facts are the CVE description, affected version boundary before 5.1.2, arbitrary command execution via shell metacharacters, and CERT/MobileRead references. Affected-product metadata in the bundle is incomplete, so avoid broad Kindle-family assumptions.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade affected Kindle Touch devices to firmware 5.1.2 or later where available.
- Check Amazon or CERT guidance for support status and any vendor-specific remediation.
- Remove unsupported affected devices from sensitive or regulated environments.
- Restrict access paths that can set LIPC properties or invoke device event interfaces.
- Document compensating controls for any device that cannot be updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Kindle Touch devices and record firmware versions.
- Flag any Kindle Touch running firmware earlier than 5.1.2.
- Confirm whether exposed workflows can set LIPC properties or sendEvent strings.
- Review device management procedures for untrusted input reaching Lab126 event interfaces.
- Track remediation evidence by serial number, owner, and firmware version.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2012-4249 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?s=c7953cc553a4aaa36e880b25aa1a6bf6&t=175368CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- VU#122656CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_CERT-VN
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/MORO-8WKGBNCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.