CVE-2018-21038 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x) software. The Secure Folder app's startup logic allows authentication bypass. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-11628 (December 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21038 represents a critical security flaw within Samsung's Secure Folder application running on Android 7.x devices. This issue stems from improper authentication mechanisms during the app's startup sequence, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected data. The Secure Folder functionality is designed to provide an isolated environment for storing sensitive information, including documents, photos, and applications, with the expectation that proper authentication would prevent unauthorized access. However, the flaw in the startup logic allows attackers to bypass these authentication requirements entirely, potentially compromising the security isolation that the feature is intended to provide.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies within the authentication flow of the Secure Folder application, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials during the initial launch process. This authentication bypass occurs before the proper credential verification mechanisms are engaged, allowing malicious actors to gain access to the secure folder content without presenting valid authentication credentials. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and authentication flow design, which aligns with common weaknesses categorized under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability essentially creates a time-of-check to time-of-use race condition where the authentication verification is bypassed during the application's initialization phase.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Samsung device users who rely on the Secure Folder for protecting sensitive personal and potentially corporate data. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access encrypted files, personal photographs, documents, and other confidential information stored within the secure folder environment. The impact extends beyond individual privacy concerns to potential corporate security breaches, especially when users store work-related confidential materials in the secure folder. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of the Secure Folder feature, which is designed to provide an additional layer of protection beyond standard device encryption. The compromise affects all Samsung mobile devices running Android 7.x software, representing a substantial user base that would be impacted by this authentication bypass.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through automated tools or manual techniques that take advantage of the flawed startup sequence. Security researchers and threat actors alike can leverage this weakness to access sensitive data without requiring physical device access or advanced cracking techniques. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely or through social engineering attacks that trick users into launching the Secure Folder application. The vulnerability also demonstrates a lack of proper security testing during the application development lifecycle, as authentication bypasses of this nature should be identified and addressed during the security review process. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts, while users should be advised to update their devices to versions that address this specific authentication bypass vulnerability. The security community should also consider this vulnerability as part of the broader threat landscape for mobile device security, particularly in environments where sensitive data protection is critical.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates from Samsung addressing the specific authentication bypass issue in the Secure Folder application. Users should be advised to disable the Secure Folder feature until proper updates are installed, and organizations should implement device management policies that enforce timely security updates. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper authentication flow implementation and the need for comprehensive security testing of mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive data. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement appropriate detection measures within their network monitoring systems. Additionally, this vulnerability reinforces the necessity of following security best practices such as implementing proper input validation, ensuring robust authentication mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of mobile applications before deployment. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures in mobile environments where sensitive data protection is paramount.