CVE-2018-21091 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with M(6.x) and N(7.x) software. Telecom has a System Crash via abnormal exception handling. The Samsung ID is SVE-2017-10906 (January 2018).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21091 represents a critical system stability issue affecting Samsung mobile devices running Android Marshmallow version 6.x and Nougat version 7.x operating systems. This flaw manifests through abnormal exception handling within the telecommunications subsystem, specifically targeting how the device processes certain network-related events and communications. The vulnerability was internally tracked by Samsung under the identifier SVE-2017-10906 and publicly disclosed in January 2018, highlighting the company's ongoing efforts to identify and address security weaknesses in their mobile platform implementations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of exceptional conditions within the telecom framework of Samsung's Android-based devices. When specific network events occur that trigger unexpected behaviors in the telephony services, the system fails to properly manage these exceptions, leading to complete system crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper exception handling as classified by CWE-248, where an exception is thrown but not properly caught or managed, resulting in application or system instability. The flaw specifically impacts the telecommunications services layer, which is responsible for managing cellular connections, voice calls, SMS messaging, and data transmission services on mobile devices.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-21091 extends beyond simple system instability, potentially disrupting critical communications services for affected users. Mobile device users may experience unexpected device reboots, complete loss of cellular connectivity, and interruption of ongoing calls or data sessions. This vulnerability could be particularly problematic in emergency situations where reliable communication is essential. The attack surface is relatively broad given that it affects devices running Android versions 6.x and 7.x, which were widely deployed across multiple Samsung device models including various smartphones and tablets. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited to create denial-of-service conditions, potentially allowing attackers to remotely force devices into crash states.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust error handling and exception management in mobile operating systems, particularly in critical subsystems like telecommunications services. The flaw represents a typical example of how seemingly minor implementation issues in system services can result in significant operational disruptions. Organizations should consider implementing mitigation strategies including prompt device updates, network monitoring for abnormal telephony service behavior, and user awareness regarding potential system instability. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to system service manipulation and denial of service attacks, particularly under the system service execution and privilege escalation categories. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to abnormal telephony service crashes and implement appropriate network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities on enterprise mobile device fleets.