CVE-2018-21071 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with M(6.0) software. Because of an unprotected intent, an attacker can read arbitrary files and emails, and take over an email account. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-11633 (May 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21071 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung mobile devices running Android Marshmallow version 6.0 and earlier. This issue stems from an unprotected intent mechanism that allows malicious applications to exploit the device's email functionality without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability specifically affects Samsung's implementation of email services and demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control mechanisms within the mobile operating system. The Samsung ID SVE-2018-11633 confirms this was recognized and documented by Samsung's security team in May 2018, highlighting the severity of the flaw.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of Android intents, which are used to communicate between different applications and system components. In this case, an attacker can craft a malicious intent that bypasses normal authentication procedures and gains unauthorized access to email accounts stored on the device. This unprotected intent allows for arbitrary file reading capabilities, enabling attackers to access sensitive email data, personal communications, and potentially other stored information on the device. The flaw operates at the application layer of the Android security model, where proper intent filtering and permission verification should have prevented such unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-21071 is severe and multifaceted, affecting both individual users and organizational security postures. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to read confidential emails, access personal information, and potentially compromise email accounts through account takeover techniques. The ability to read arbitrary files extends beyond email data to potentially include other sensitive information stored on the device, creating a broad attack surface. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the Android security model's intent protection mechanisms. Organizations using Samsung devices running affected software versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from both users and administrators. Samsung released security patches for affected devices, but users must ensure their devices are updated to the latest firmware versions that address this specific intent protection flaw. System administrators should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify affected devices within their networks and implement mandatory update policies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application. Additional protective measures include enabling device encryption, using security applications that monitor for suspicious intent usage, and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access control policies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in enterprise environments.