CVE-2018-12038 in 840 EVO
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung 840 EVO devices. Vendor-specific commands may allow access to the disk-encryption key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12038 affects Samsung 840 EVO solid state drives and represents a critical weakness in the implementation of vendor-specific commands that govern disk encryption operations. This flaw exists within the firmware of these storage devices and allows unauthorized access to encryption keys that are typically protected by hardware-level security mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the way Samsung implements proprietary command sets that interface with the drive's encryption subsystem, creating an exploitable pathway for attackers who can manipulate these commands to extract sensitive cryptographic material.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and access control mechanisms within the Samsung 840 EVO firmware's implementation of vendor-specific commands. These commands are designed to provide administrative functions for the drive's encryption system, but the implementation fails to properly authenticate or restrict access to these functions. The flaw allows an attacker with physical access to the device or the ability to send specific command sequences to the drive to bypass normal encryption key protection mechanisms. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate separation between legitimate administrative functions and potentially dangerous operations that could compromise encryption integrity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations and individuals who rely on Samsung 840 EVO drives for data protection. The ability to extract disk encryption keys means that attackers can bypass the entire encryption framework designed to protect sensitive data, rendering the storage device's security features ineffective. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects enterprise storage solutions where data confidentiality is paramount, and the exploitation can occur without requiring sophisticated attack vectors or complex malware. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise, unauthorized access to corporate networks, and violation of data protection regulations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control mechanisms within the drive's firmware implementation. This weakness creates an attack surface that maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1006 System Scripting and T1070 Indicator Removal on Host, as attackers could potentially use the extracted keys to access data and then remove evidence of their activities. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as hardware security modules, encrypted container solutions, and regular firmware updates to mitigate exposure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of supply chain security and the need for comprehensive testing of vendor-specific implementations, particularly in critical infrastructure components where encryption is relied upon for data protection.