CVE-2019-20573 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x), O(8.x), and P(9.0) software. There is local SQL injection in the RCS Content Provider. The Samsung IDs are SVE-2019-14059, SVE-2019-14685 (August 2019).
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20573 represents a critical local SQL injection flaw within the RCS Content Provider component of Samsung mobile devices running Android versions 7.x, 8.x, and 9.0. This issue affects the core communication infrastructure of these devices, specifically targeting the Rich Communication Services functionality that enables enhanced messaging capabilities including multimedia content sharing and group chat features. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the content provider's database operations, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious applications installed on the device.
The technical flaw manifests as a local SQL injection vulnerability that allows an attacker with local access to manipulate database queries through crafted malicious input. This occurs within the RCS Content Provider which handles the storage and retrieval of rich communication service data including message content, media files, and user interaction records. The vulnerability specifically affects how the application processes user-supplied data when constructing SQL queries for database operations, failing to properly escape or sanitize input parameters before incorporating them into database commands. This weakness enables an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate the underlying database structure, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of communication records.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to Samsung device users as it allows local privilege escalation and data compromise without requiring network connectivity or external attack vectors. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists within a system component that processes sensitive user communications, including multimedia messages, chat histories, and contact information. An attacker with local application-level access can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential data from the RCS database, modify existing records, or potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system access. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potential corporate data breaches when these devices are used for business communications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the root cause involves improper handling of user-supplied data in SQL query construction, creating opportunities for unauthorized database manipulation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through local system exploitation. The attack vector requires local application installation or existing user access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device security is compromised or where users may unknowingly install malicious applications. Security researchers identified this issue through careful analysis of the RCS Content Provider implementation and its interaction with the Android database framework.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20573 should prioritize immediate software updates from Samsung to address the underlying SQL injection vulnerability. Users should ensure their devices are running the latest security patches available through Samsung's official update channels, particularly focusing on the August 2019 security updates that addressed this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict application vetting processes to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this local vulnerability. Network security teams should monitor for suspicious database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while system administrators should conduct regular security assessments of mobile device management policies. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of only installing applications from trusted sources and maintaining current security software on their devices to reduce the risk of local exploitation.