CVE-2019-20576 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with P(9.0) software. The MemorySaver Content Provider allows SQL injection. The Samsung ID is SVE-2019-14365 (August 2019).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20576 represents a critical security flaw within Samsung's mobile operating system version 9.0 and later. This issue resides within the MemorySaver Content Provider component, which serves as a data access interface for managing memory optimization features on Samsung devices. The vulnerability manifests as an SQL injection vulnerability that could potentially allow malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations and access sensitive system information. The Samsung internal identification SVE-2019-14365 confirms this as a documented security concern that was addressed through the company's vulnerability management processes. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data stored within the device's memory management systems.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the MemorySaver Content Provider's database query construction mechanisms. When applications or system processes interact with this content provider to manage memory optimization settings, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into SQL statements. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability follows the common pattern described by CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection flaws as weaknesses in software that allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through untrusted input. The attack vector specifically targets the content provider interface, making it accessible to applications with appropriate permissions or through privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-20576 extends beyond simple data theft, as it could enable attackers to manipulate memory management configurations that affect system stability and performance. An attacker with successful exploitation could potentially access cached data, user preferences, or other sensitive information stored within the MemorySaver database components. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to user privacy and device security, particularly in environments where Samsung devices handle sensitive corporate or personal information. The attack surface is broad as the MemorySaver Content Provider interfaces with multiple system components that manage memory allocation, application caching, and background process management. According to ATT&CK framework category T1074, this vulnerability could enable data staging activities by allowing attackers to access and manipulate stored data within system memory management components. The vulnerability's presence in the P(9.0) software version indicates it affects a substantial number of devices that were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates from Samsung to address the SQL injection flaw within the MemorySaver Content Provider. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should review application permissions and limit access to system content providers where possible. The recommended approach includes applying the latest security patches released by Samsung as part of their regular security update cycle, which would address the improper input validation issues in the content provider implementation. Additionally, implementing database query parameterization techniques and input sanitization measures within applications that interact with system content providers can help prevent exploitation. Security professionals should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify suspicious database activity patterns associated with SQL injection attempts, particularly in memory management contexts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in system-level components and the need for regular security assessments of content provider implementations to prevent similar issues in future software releases.