CVE-2018-9141 in Mobile Device
Summary
by MITRE
On Samsung mobile devices with L(5.x), M(6.0), and N(7.x) software, Gallery allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a BMP file with a crafted resolution, aka SVE-2017-11105.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9141 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Samsung's Gallery application affecting devices running Android versions Lollipop 5.x, Marshmallow 6.0, and Nougat 7.x. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the image parsing mechanism, specifically when processing BMP (Bitmap) image files. The flaw manifests when the Gallery application attempts to parse a maliciously crafted BMP file containing an oversized resolution field that exceeds the allocated buffer space in memory. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the T1059.007 sub-technique, specifically targeting application execution through malformed input processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed BMP file that contains a resolution value exceeding the bounds of the allocated memory buffer. When the Gallery application processes this malformed image file, it fails to properly validate the image dimensions before attempting to allocate memory for the image data. This validation failure results in a buffer overflow condition where the application writes data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers or return addresses. The attacker can manipulate this overflow to redirect execution flow to malicious code, effectively achieving remote code execution on the target device. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the user's trust in legitimate image viewing applications and requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious image file within the Gallery application.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9141 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected Samsung devices. Once exploited, attackers gain the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Gallery application, which typically runs with system-level permissions on Android devices. This could enable attackers to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, modify system settings, or even escalate privileges to gain full system control. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Samsung mobile devices including popular models from the Galaxy S series, Note series, and various other Android smartphones and tablets. The attack surface is particularly concerning because image files are commonly shared through social media, email attachments, and file transfer applications, making the exploitation vector highly accessible to remote attackers.
Samsung addressed this vulnerability through a security patch released in their regular security update cycle, requiring device users to install the latest software updates to mitigate the risk. The patch implements proper bounds checking and input validation for BMP image resolution fields, preventing the buffer overflow condition from occurring. Organizations and individuals should prioritize updating their Samsung devices to the latest firmware versions, particularly those containing the security patches for CVE-2018-9141. Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening image files from untrusted sources and consider implementing network-level filtering to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious image files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in mobile applications and highlights the need for continuous security testing of image parsing libraries. Security professionals should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other image processing components and ensure that proper memory safety practices are implemented throughout mobile application development to prevent similar heap-based buffer overflow conditions from occurring in the future.