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OnePlus Left Behind a Testing App on Its Devices With Backdoor to Root Access: Report

OnePlus Left Behind a Testing App on Its Devices With Backdoor to Root Access: Report 2630m

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 14 November 2017 11:30 IST

Highlights

OnePlus reportedly installs a diagnostic app on its devices
The company is looking into it, co-founder Pei said
OnePlus 3, 3T, and 5 reportedly install the backdoor app

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OnePlus has landed in soup again just a few days ahead of the launch of its much-anticipated OnePlus 5T smartphone. The Chinese company has been found to leave behind an app on its recent devices that can act as a backdoor capable of providing root access without unlocking. For end s, this essentially means that some OnePlus smartphones can be easily rooted without even unlocking the bootloader. The Chinese company was quick enough to acknowledge the issue, and has confirmed that it's investigating. y4650

A Twitter who goes by the Mr. Robot-inspired name Elliot Alderson OnePlus 5 smartphones. We can confirm its presence on the OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 5.

The app lets OEMs run diagnostic tests on the device though it can also be exploited to grant root access, which means a backdoor.

The Twitter in a series of tweets explained how the exploit can be used to gain root access on the OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3T, and OnePlus 5. For OnePlus 3, 3T, and 5 s, Alderson suggested checking apps list to find the EngineerMode app. "If you have an OnePlus device, I'm pretty sure you have this app pre-installed. To check open Settings -> Apps -> Menu -> Show system apps and search EngineerMode in the app list to check," the wrote in a tweet. Another Twitter pointed out that OnePlus One with CyanogenMod build doesn't come with any such app, though the smartphone's OxygenOS build does.

Carl Pei, Co-founder OnePlus on Twitter confirmed that the company is looking into the issue and wrote in a tweet, "Thanks for the heads up, we're looking into it."

The Chinese company not long ago faced public backlash after a researcher discovered that OnePlus devices were collecting new "opt-in" option for the experience program.

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Further reading: Android

Ketan Pratap

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Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His ion for the great ...More