CVE-2018-21077 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with M(6.0), N(7.x), and O(8.x) software. There is a Clipboard content disclosure in the locked state because the keyboard may be used during an emergency call. The Samsung ID is SVE-2017-11107 (April 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2020
This vulnerability affects Samsung mobile devices running android versions 6.0 m, 7.x n, and 8.x o operating systems where clipboard content disclosure occurs in locked state conditions. The flaw arises from the keyboard functionality being accessible during emergency call scenarios, creating an unexpected attack vector for information leakage. This represents a significant security weakness in the device's lock screen protection mechanisms, as it allows unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information stored in the clipboard. The vulnerability was identified and documented by Samsung under their internal security tracking system with id SVE-2017-11107 and was publicly disclosed in april 2018.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the emergency call flow on samsung devices. when users initiate an emergency call, the system temporarily grants keyboard access to the device interface, but fails to properly restrict clipboard access during this transition period. this creates a window of opportunity where malicious actors or unauthorized users can potentially access clipboard contents that may contain personal information, passwords, or other sensitive data. the keyboard input functionality is not adequately isolated from the clipboard data storage system during the emergency call sequence, violating fundamental security principles of access control and data separation. this issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities and can be classified as a weakness in the system's secure state transition handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. when a device is locked, users expect that clipboard contents remain protected from unauthorized access, particularly during emergency situations where the device may be in a vulnerable state. the disclosure can occur without user awareness, making it particularly dangerous as it may expose confidential data that has been copied to the clipboard from secure applications or sensitive communications. this vulnerability affects all samsung devices running the specified android versions and represents a persistent risk as long as the device remains unpatched, potentially allowing attackers to harvest sensitive information from clipboard contents during emergency call scenarios.
The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in implementing proper secure state management during emergency call transitions, which aligns with common security patterns identified in the attack framework. from an attack perspective, this weakness can be exploited by adversaries who gain physical access to a locked device during an emergency call, allowing them to access clipboard contents that may contain personal identification numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information. the attack vector is relatively simple and does not require sophisticated techniques, making it particularly concerning for widespread exploitation. organizations and individuals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader mobile device security assessments and implement appropriate mitigations to protect against unauthorized information disclosure. the issue also highlights the importance of proper access control implementation during system state transitions and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the device's security architecture.