CVE-2018-21056 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with O(8.x) software. The Smartwatch displays Secure Folder Notification content. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12458 (September 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
This vulnerability exists within Samsung's Android-based mobile operating system version 8.x where the Smartwatch application fails to properly enforce security boundaries when displaying notifications from the Secure Folder. The Secure Folder is designed to isolate sensitive data and applications from the primary system environment, creating a secure container for confidential information. However, this flaw allows notification content from the Secure Folder to be displayed on the Smartwatch interface, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties who may have access to the wearable device.
The technical root cause stems from inadequate input validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the notification handling system. When notifications are generated from applications within the Secure Folder, the system should prevent their content from being transmitted to external devices such as Smartwatches that operate outside the secure environment. The vulnerability represents a breakdown in the principle of least privilege and secure boundary enforcement, allowing cross-environment information leakage. This issue specifically affects the synchronization process between the smartphone and Smartwatch, where notification metadata and content are transmitted without proper security checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it creates a data exposure channel that undermines the fundamental security objectives of the Secure Folder feature. An attacker with physical access to a Smartwatch could potentially obtain sensitive information that would normally be protected within the Secure Folder, including personal data, financial information, or business confidential details. This exposure occurs without user consent or awareness, as the notification content flows automatically from the smartphone to the wearable device. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for information disclosure that bypasses the intended security architecture of the device's secure container implementation.
Organizations and individuals should implement immediate mitigations including disabling Smartwatch notification synchronization for Secure Folder content, updating to the latest available firmware releases from Samsung, and reviewing notification settings to limit what information is shared with external devices. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their mobile device management policies to ensure that secure folders and sensitive data are properly protected from cross-device information leakage. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) when sensitive notification content contains authentication-related information. The flaw demonstrates a critical gap in Samsung's secure multi-layered approach to mobile device security, where the boundary protection mechanisms fail to maintain proper isolation between secure and non-secure environments during notification propagation.