CVE-2018-21045 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x) and O(8.x) software. There is Clipboard access in the lockscreen state via a copy-and-paste action. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-13381 (December 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
This vulnerability exists in Samsung mobile devices running Android Nougat 7.x and Oreo 8.x operating system versions, representing a critical security flaw in the device's lockscreen protection mechanisms. The issue stems from insufficient access controls that allow unauthorized clipboard manipulation while the device is locked, creating a significant attack surface that violates fundamental mobile security principles. The vulnerability was identified and documented by Samsung under their internal security tracking system as SVE-2018-13381, highlighting the severity of the issue within their security assessment framework.
The technical flaw manifests through a copy-and-paste functionality that remains accessible even when the device screen is locked, enabling malicious actors to access clipboard contents without proper authentication. This occurs because the operating system fails to properly enforce clipboard access restrictions based on device lock state, allowing any application with clipboard access permissions to read and potentially modify clipboard data. The vulnerability specifically affects the lockscreen state where normal security boundaries should be enforced, yet the clipboard service continues to operate with reduced access controls. This represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the operating system's security model implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows attackers to potentially access sensitive information stored in the clipboard, including passwords, personal identification numbers, confidential messages, and other private data that users may have copied to their clipboard for convenience. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through malicious applications or by physically accessing a locked device to retrieve information that should remain protected. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard clipboard manipulation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device security is paramount. This vulnerability directly violates security requirements outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers could leverage clipboard access to extract authentication tokens or other sensitive credentials. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1115 which describes clipboard data collection, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing mobile device management policies. The flaw undermines the fundamental security assumption that locked devices provide protection against unauthorized data access, potentially enabling credential theft, data exfiltration, and privacy violations. Organizations relying on Samsung devices for enterprise use must consider this vulnerability when evaluating their mobile security posture and implementing appropriate compensating controls to mitigate the risk of unauthorized clipboard access during lockscreen states.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate software updates from Samsung to address the vulnerability, implementation of device management policies that restrict clipboard access permissions, and user education regarding the risks of copying sensitive information to clipboard while devices are unlocked. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious clipboard activity and establishing clear policies around handling sensitive data on mobile devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive security testing during mobile operating system development and highlights the need for robust access control enforcement across all device states including lockscreen environments.