CVE-2019-20591 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 Gear VR Service Content Provider. The Samsung ID is SVE-2019-14058 (July 2019).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-20591 represents a critical local SQL injection flaw affecting Samsung mobile devices running Android versions Nougat 7.x, Oreo 8.x, and Pie 9.0. This security weakness resides within the Gear VR Service Content Provider component, which serves as a bridge between virtual reality applications and the underlying Android operating system. The vulnerability was identified and documented by Samsung under their internal security tracking system as SVE-2019-14058, highlighting the organization's recognition of the severity of this local privilege escalation vector.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation within the Gear VR Service Content Provider's database interaction mechanisms. When applications or services attempt to query the content provider using user-supplied parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape these inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This allows malicious local applications to inject arbitrary SQL commands through crafted input parameters, potentially enabling unauthorized database access and manipulation. The vulnerability operates at the local privilege level, meaning it requires an attacker to already have application-level access to the device, but once exploited, could provide extensive database access and potentially escalate privileges further.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to manipulate the virtual reality service database content, potentially compromising user data stored within the Gear VR ecosystem. This includes personal information, application settings, and potentially sensitive user behavioral data collected through VR interactions. The vulnerability affects Samsung's Gear VR service implementation, which is integral to the virtual reality experience on Samsung devices, making it particularly concerning for users who rely on VR applications for entertainment, education, or professional purposes. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to modify or delete user data, potentially disrupting the VR service functionality or creating backdoors for persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20591 should focus on both immediate device-level protections and long-term software updates. Samsung released security patches for affected Android versions that addressed the input validation issues within the Gear VR Service Content Provider, requiring users to update their device firmware to the latest security build. System administrators and security professionals should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict access to the vulnerable content provider and monitor for unusual database access patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software systems, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent unescaped user input from reaching database execution contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and ensure timely patch deployment across enterprise devices.