CVE-2019-20552 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with P(9.0) software. Attackers can bypass Factory Reset Protection (FRP) via an RCS call. The Samsung ID is SVE-2019-15035 (October 2019).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20552 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung mobile devices running Android Pie version 9.0 and later. This weakness specifically affects the Factory Reset Protection mechanism, which is designed to prevent unauthorized use of devices after a factory reset operation. The issue was catalogued under Samsung's internal vulnerability tracking system as SVE-2019-15035 and was publicly disclosed in October 2019. The flaw exploits the Rich Communication Services (RCS) calling functionality to bypass the device's security protections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the exploitation of RCS (Rich Communication Services) call protocols that are integrated into Samsung's mobile operating system. RCS enables enhanced messaging and calling features beyond traditional sms and voice calls, incorporating multimedia capabilities and real-time communication elements. Attackers can leverage this functionality to establish a specific sequence of communications that manipulates the device's FRP state during or after a factory reset operation. The flaw essentially allows malicious actors to circumvent the security measures that should prevent device usage without proper authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for both individual users and enterprise environments. When a device undergoes a factory reset, the FRP mechanism should require the user to authenticate with their Samsung account credentials before the device becomes functional again. However, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass this authentication requirement through an RCS call, effectively rendering the factory reset protection ineffective. This creates a scenario where stolen or lost devices can be immediately reactivated by unauthorized parties without proper authorization, potentially exposing sensitive data and enabling further malicious activities.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-305 authentication bypass weaknesses and relates to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password storage. The attack vector specifically targets the device's security model during the recovery process, exploiting a communication protocol rather than traditional attack surfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates how modern communication features can inadvertently introduce security weaknesses when not properly secured against malicious use cases. Organizations should consider this in their security frameworks as it represents a failure in the principle of least privilege during device recovery operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate software updates from Samsung, which would typically involve patching the RCS implementation to properly validate authentication requirements during device reset operations. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest security patches available from Samsung, particularly those released after the October 2019 disclosure. Device administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as remote wiping capabilities and enhanced account protection features. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing for communication protocols and highlights the need for proper authentication validation in all device recovery scenarios. Organizations should review their device management policies to ensure that such vulnerabilities are promptly addressed through coordinated patch management processes.