CVE-2018-21062 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x) and O(8.x) software. When biometric authentication is disabled, an attacker can view Streams content (e.g., a Gallery slideshow) of a locked Secure Folder via a connection to an external device. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-11766 (August 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
This vulnerability exists within Samsung mobile devices running Android Nougat 7.x and Oreo 8.x operating systems, specifically affecting the Secure Folder functionality that houses sensitive user data. The flaw represents a critical security oversight in the device's biometric authentication system where proper access controls fail to prevent unauthorized viewing of protected content. The vulnerability was identified and documented by Samsung under their internal security vulnerability enumeration system as SVE-2018-11766, highlighting the severity of the issue that persisted across multiple Android versions.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the Secure Folder implementation when biometric authentication is disabled. This weakness allows an attacker with physical access to a locked device to bypass normal security boundaries through external device connections, specifically exploiting the Streams content viewing functionality. The vulnerability occurs because the device's security model fails to properly enforce content isolation when biometric authentication is disabled, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected media content such as gallery slideshows. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement as defined by CWE-284.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for users who rely on Samsung devices for storing sensitive personal information within the Secure Folder. Attackers can exploit this weakness by connecting the device to external hardware through USB or other connection methods, potentially gaining access to multimedia content that should remain protected. This creates a serious privacy risk as personal photos, videos, and other media stored in the Secure Folder become accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the device's protected storage mechanisms and represents a failure in the security model's ability to maintain data confidentiality even when biometric authentication is not actively required.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host, as it allows for unauthorized access to protected data through external device connections. The flaw also relates to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in mobile device security systems, particularly when dealing with sensitive user data stored in protected containers. Users are advised to avoid disabling biometric authentication on devices running affected software versions, and Samsung should implement proper access control enforcement mechanisms to prevent unauthorized content viewing through external connections.