CVE-2018-10751 in S7 Edge
Summary
by MITRE
A malformed OMACP WAP push message can cause memory corruption on a Samsung S7 Edge device when processing the String Extension portion of the WbXml payload. This is due to an integer overflow in memory allocation for this string. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-11463.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting Samsung S7 Edge devices through malformed OMACP WAP push messages. The flaw manifests during processing of the String Extension portion within WbXml payloads, where an integer overflow occurs during memory allocation operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of string data within the WAP push notification framework, creating a condition where insufficient memory allocation leads to buffer overflows and potential arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where integer arithmetic results in values exceeding the maximum representable value for the data type. The issue demonstrates how mobile device operating systems can be compromised through carefully crafted network communications, particularly those involving push notification services that are commonly used for delivering updates, alerts, and application data to mobile devices. The Samsung-specific identifier SVE-2018-11463 indicates this was recognized and tracked by Samsung's security team as a device-specific vulnerability requiring targeted mitigation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the processing of WbXml (Wireless Binary XML) formatted messages that are part of the OMACP (Open Mobile Alliance Client Provisioning) protocol used for device configuration and provisioning. When the device receives a malformed WAP push message containing a specially crafted String Extension field, the system attempts to allocate memory based on a computed value that has overflowed due to integer arithmetic limitations. This overflow condition results in insufficient memory allocation for the string data, causing subsequent memory corruption when the system attempts to write or process the string content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs in the device's native processing pipeline for push notifications, meaning that simply receiving a malicious message can trigger the exploit without requiring user interaction or additional attack vectors. The memory corruption can potentially lead to privilege escalation, system instability, or complete device compromise depending on the execution context and the specific memory locations affected.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for Samsung S7 Edge users and organizations relying on these devices for business operations. The attack surface is broad since push notifications are frequently used for legitimate business communications, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious payloads without proper security controls. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through network-based attacks where attackers send specially crafted WAP push messages to target devices, potentially affecting enterprise mobile device management systems that rely on push notifications for configuration updates and security patches. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, although the actual attack vector involves network protocol manipulation rather than script execution. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect enterprise security postures, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network infiltration or data exfiltration operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Samsung security patches and firmware updates that address the integer overflow condition in the WbXml processing code. Network administrators should implement filtering controls to block or inspect WAP push messages from untrusted sources, particularly those containing OMACP protocol data. Mobile device management solutions should be configured to disable or restrict push notification processing for potentially malicious content, while also implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for anomalous memory allocation patterns or unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in mobile operating system components, particularly in code paths that handle external data processing. Security monitoring should focus on detecting malformed WAP push message patterns and unusual memory allocation behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other mobile platforms that might share similar processing frameworks.