CVE-2012-6334 in SamsungDive
Summary
by MITRE
The Track My Mobile feature in the SamsungDive subsystem for Android on Samsung Galaxy devices does not properly implement Location APIs, which allows physically proximate attackers to provide arbitrary location data via a "commonly available simple GPS location spoofer."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6334 resides within the SamsungDive subsystem of Android-based Samsung Galaxy devices, specifically affecting the Track My Mobile functionality. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the implementation of location services that undermines the integrity of geolocation data. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of Location Application Programming Interfaces within the mobile operating system's framework, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate location information without requiring advanced technical skills or specialized equipment.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the SamsungDive subsystem's failure to properly validate and authenticate location data received through the Android Location APIs. This weakness enables attackers positioned within physical proximity to a target device to inject false GPS coordinates using readily available commercial GPS spoofing devices. The vulnerability operates at the system level where location services are processed, bypassing normal security controls that should validate the authenticity and source of location information. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in validation of location data, specifically categorized under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, with elements of CWE-310: Cryptographic Issues and CWE-327: Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple location spoofing, creating potential security risks for various location-dependent applications and services. Mobile devices utilizing the affected SamsungDive subsystem become susceptible to location-based attacks that could compromise location-aware services such as mobile banking applications, location-based social networking, and geofencing security systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to bypass location-based access controls, manipulate location-dependent services, or conduct location-based social engineering attacks. The proximity requirement for exploitation means that physical presence or close-range wireless access is sufficient to carry out these attacks, making them particularly concerning for high-value targets or sensitive environments where location security is paramount.
This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1566.001: Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers might use location spoofing to establish credibility in social engineering campaigns, and T1059.001: Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as location data manipulation could be part of broader attack chains involving automated exploitation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of Samsung Galaxy devices and the prevalence of location-dependent services in modern mobile applications. Organizations and individuals relying on location-based services for security purposes face significant risks, as this vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish false geolocation identities that could be used to circumvent location-based security policies or gain unauthorized access to location-sensitive resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6334 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Immediate actions include disabling the Track My Mobile feature when not actively needed, implementing additional authentication layers for location-dependent services, and deploying network-based monitoring solutions to detect anomalous location data patterns. System-level mitigations should involve updating to patched versions of the SamsungDive subsystem, implementing robust location data validation mechanisms, and establishing location integrity checking protocols for critical applications. Organizations should also consider implementing location-based access controls that require multi-factor authentication for high-security applications and deploy mobile device management solutions that can monitor and control location service usage. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper API implementation security practices and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of location services before deployment in production environments, particularly in systems where location data integrity is critical for security operations.