CVE-2019-20592 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 Story Video Editor Content Provider. The Samsung ID is SVE-2019-14062 (July 2019).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-20592 represents a critical local SQL injection flaw affecting Samsung mobile devices running Android versions 7.x Nougat, 8.x Oreo, and 9.0 Pie. This security weakness resides within the Story Video Editor Content Provider component, which is part of Samsung's proprietary software stack designed for video editing functionality. The issue was identified and documented under Samsung's internal tracking system as SVE-2019-14062, with the vulnerability disclosure occurring in July 2019. The Story Video Editor is a built-in application that allows users to create and edit video content directly on their Samsung devices, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given its potential for widespread exploitation across millions of devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Content Provider interface of the Story Video Editor application. When the application processes user-supplied data through its database queries, it fails to adequately sanitize or escape input parameters before incorporating them into SQL statements. This flaw allows malicious actors with local access to the device to inject arbitrary SQL commands through specially crafted input parameters. The Content Provider mechanism in Android systems is designed to facilitate data sharing between applications, but when improperly secured, it can become a vector for privilege escalation and data manipulation attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the database operations within the Story Video Editor's internal storage system where user-created content and metadata are stored.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides potential attackers with unauthorized access to sensitive user data stored within the Story Video Editor's database. Local attackers could exploit this weakness to extract personal information, modify existing video content, or even gain elevated privileges on the device. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the Story Video Editor application typically runs with elevated permissions and has access to user-generated content that may contain sensitive personal information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of how insecure data handling in mobile applications can lead to significant security breaches. The impact is amplified by the fact that these affected Android versions were widely deployed across Samsung's device portfolio, creating a substantial attack surface for potential exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20592 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Samsung's security update mechanisms, as the vulnerability affects devices running older Android versions that may not receive regular security updates. System administrators and security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider disabling the Story Video Editor application if it's not essential for business operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when handling database operations within mobile applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict access to potentially vulnerable applications and ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed by database engines. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for mobile security frameworks that incorporate automated security testing and input validation checks as part of the development lifecycle, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through local exploitation methods.