CVE-2018-14994: The Essential Phone Android device with a build fingerprint of essential/mata/mata:8.1.0/OPM1.180104.166/297:u

This week

HIGH 7.5REMOTEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-14994 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting phone firmware. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The Essential Phone Android device with a build fingerprint of essential/mata/mata:8.1.0/OPM1.180104.166/297:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.ts.android.hiddenmenu (versionName=1.0, platformBuildVersionName=8.1.0) that contains an exported activity app component named com.ts.android.hiddenmenu.rtn.RTNResetActivity that allows any app co-located on the device to programmatically initiate a factory

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.0% (top 19%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2019-04-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: essential

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-04-25 20:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:42 UTCUpdated Record last modified

essential phone firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-14994?

phone firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-14994 being exploited?

CVE-2018-14994 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-14994 affect?

CVE-2018-14994 affects phone firmware. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). The Essential Phone Android device with a build fingerprint of essential/mata/mata:8.1.0/OPM1.180104.166/297:user/release-keys contains a pre-installed platform app with a package name of com.ts.android.hiddenmenu (versionName=1.0, platform

How urgent is CVE-2018-14994?

Priority 56/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Android vulnerabilities

References

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