CVE-2018-21041 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with O(8.x) software. Access to Gallery in the Secure Folder can occur without authentication. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-13057 (December 2018).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
This vulnerability affects Samsung mobile devices running Android 8.x operating system versions where the Secure Folder functionality fails to properly enforce authentication requirements. The Secure Folder represents a dedicated protected environment within Samsung's mobile operating system designed to store sensitive data and applications in an isolated container that should only be accessible after proper authentication. The flaw manifests as a bypass condition that allows unauthorized access to gallery content stored within this secure container without requiring the user to provide valid credentials such as a password, PIN, or biometric authentication. This represents a critical security weakness in Samsung's implementation of their secure container technology.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication states within the Secure Folder component. When users attempt to access the gallery application within the Secure Folder, the system should verify that appropriate authentication has been completed before granting access to the protected content. However, due to a flaw in the authentication flow management, the system fails to properly check whether valid credentials have been presented, allowing access to gallery media files even when no authentication has occurred. This authentication bypass affects the core security model of the Secure Folder and undermines the fundamental purpose of the secure container. The vulnerability specifically impacts Samsung devices with Android 8.x software versions and represents a failure in the secure element implementation that should maintain strict access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to gallery content. Since the Secure Folder is designed to protect sensitive personal information, media files, and potentially confidential business data, unauthorized access to these materials could lead to privacy breaches, identity theft, or corporate data exposure. The vulnerability affects all users of affected Samsung devices who have Secure Folder enabled, potentially exposing thousands of users to unauthorized access to their personal media collections. This issue particularly impacts users who store sensitive photographs, documents, or other confidential materials within the Secure Folder, as attackers could exploit this weakness to gain access to otherwise protected content without requiring any authentication.
Organizations and individuals should immediately update their Samsung devices to the latest available security patches provided by Samsung, as the company likely released a firmware update addressing this specific vulnerability. Users should also consider disabling the Secure Folder functionality until proper updates have been applied and verified. System administrators should assess their mobile device management policies to ensure that all Samsung devices within their environment are properly updated and monitored for similar security weaknesses. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in mobile security contexts. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1552.001 which involves unauthorized access to protected data, making it a significant concern for both individual privacy and enterprise security.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication flow implementation in mobile security solutions, particularly in containerized environments where access control is paramount. The issue highlights potential gaps in Samsung's security testing processes for their proprietary secure container implementation, suggesting that additional validation of authentication states may be required in future security assessments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even well-established security features can contain implementation flaws that significantly weaken overall system security posture. Users should remain vigilant about security updates and consider the broader implications of such authentication bypasses on their mobile device security model.