CVE-2020-13837 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with Q(10.0) software. The Lockscreen feature does not block Quick Panel access to Music Share. The Samsung ID is SVE-2020-17145 (June 2020).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2020
This vulnerability exists in Samsung mobile devices running Android 10.0 software where the lockscreen security mechanism fails to properly restrict access to the Quick Panel functionality that provides Music Share capabilities. The flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the device's primary security boundary. When a device is locked, users should be prevented from accessing certain system functions that could expose personal data or enable unauthorized interactions with media content. However, this vulnerability allows unauthorized access to music sharing features through the quick panel interface even when the device is secured with a lockscreen.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control enforcement within Samsung's custom Android implementation. The Quick Panel, which typically appears when swiping down from the top of the screen, contains shortcuts to various system functions including music sharing capabilities. When a device is locked, the system should enforce strict permissions that prevent access to these features, but the Samsung implementation fails to properly validate user authentication status before granting access to Music Share functionality. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security boundary enforcement. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-284 Access Control Bypass, which occurs when a system fails to properly enforce access restrictions to resources or capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to potentially enable unauthorized media sharing and content exposure. An attacker with physical access to a locked device could use the Music Share feature to broadcast audio content or share media files without proper authentication, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling malicious activities. This weakness creates opportunities for social engineering attacks where unauthorized individuals might exploit the feature to gain access to personal media libraries or use the sharing capabilities for inappropriate purposes. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk for enterprise environments where employees might inadvertently expose corporate or personal data through unauthorized media sharing.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the Quick Panel Music Share feature on affected devices, updating to the latest Samsung security patches, and educating users about the risks of leaving devices unlocked. Organizations should consider implementing additional device management policies that restrict access to specific features based on authentication status. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing for custom Android implementations and demonstrates the need for robust access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1546.001 Application Execution via Registry Run Keys and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could potentially leverage this access to execute malicious code or scripts through media sharing channels. Proper device management and regular security updates are essential to prevent exploitation of this authorization bypass vulnerability.