CVE-2018-21057 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x) O(8.x, and P(9.0) (Exynos chipsets) software. There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the Shannon Baseband. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12757 (September 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21057 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the Shannon Baseband component of Samsung mobile devices equipped with Exynos chipsets. This flaw affects devices running Android versions 7.x Nougat, 8.x Oreo, and 9.0 Pie, making it a widespread concern across multiple generations of Samsung smartphones and tablets. The issue was formally acknowledged by Samsung under their internal security tracking system with the identifier SVE-2018-12757, highlighting the severity of the problem that required immediate attention and remediation efforts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the Shannon Baseband firmware, which is responsible for managing cellular communication protocols and radio frequency operations on Exynos chipsets. When processing specific malformed input data through cellular network protocols, the baseband component fails to validate buffer boundaries properly, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. This fundamental flaw in memory management creates a potential exploitation vector that could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within the baseband context, effectively compromising the device's core communication capabilities and potentially the entire system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device instability, as it presents significant security risks to users of affected Samsung devices. Attackers could potentially exploit this buffer overflow to gain unauthorized access to the device's baseband processor, which controls critical cellular functions including voice calls, text messaging, and data connectivity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that baseband vulnerabilities often provide attackers with persistent access to device functionality, potentially enabling surveillance capabilities, call interception, or even complete device takeover. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a critical weakness in data handling and memory management practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-21057 primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Samsung as part of their regular security update cycle. Users should ensure their devices receive and install all available updates, particularly those addressing the Shannon Baseband component. Network operators and security administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across enterprise device fleets to prevent potential exploitation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1547.001 for persistence mechanisms, as baseband vulnerabilities can enable long-term access to device systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that enforce timely security updates and monitor for signs of exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous cellular traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this buffer overflow vulnerability.