CVE-2018-14745 in Galaxy S6
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in prot_get_ring_space in the bcmdhd4358 Wi-Fi driver on the Samsung Galaxy S6 SM-G920F G920FXXU5EQH7 allows an attacker (who has obtained code execution on the Wi-Fi chip) to overwrite kernel memory due to improper validation of the ring buffer read pointer. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12029.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-14745 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the bcmdhd4358 Wi-Fi driver component of Samsung Galaxy S6 devices, specifically affecting the SM-G920F model with firmware version G920FXXU5EQH7. This issue resides within the prot_get_ring_space function where insufficient validation of the ring buffer read pointer creates a condition that allows for kernel memory corruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only code execution on the Wi-Fi chip to exploit, making it accessible through sophisticated attack vectors that can achieve such privileges.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation within the driver's ring buffer management system where the read pointer value is not adequately checked before being used to determine memory access boundaries. This allows an attacker to manipulate the read pointer to point beyond the allocated buffer space, enabling arbitrary memory overwrite operations. The vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code in kernel space, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The issue falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in heap-based buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a pathway for persistent system compromise through kernel memory corruption. An attacker who can achieve code execution on the Wi-Fi chip can leverage this flaw to overwrite critical kernel data structures, potentially enabling privilege escalation to root level access, system instability, or complete device takeover. This vulnerability demonstrates the dangerous potential of driver-level flaws in mobile platforms where Wi-Fi chip operations are closely integrated with system memory management. The attack surface is particularly significant given that Wi-Fi chip operations are continuously active and often have elevated privileges within the device's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from Samsung, as the company issued patches addressing the specific buffer overflow condition in the bcmdhd4358 driver. System administrators and security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through abnormal Wi-Fi chip behavior or memory access patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure driver development practices including proper input validation, bounds checking, and memory safety mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through kernel-level modifications, making it a critical concern for mobile device security hardening efforts and requiring comprehensive security assessments of embedded driver components.