CVE-2020-26599 in Mobile Device
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2020
An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with Q(10.0) software. The DynamicLockscreen Terms and Conditions can be accepted without authentication. The Samsung ID is SVE-2020-17079 (October 2020).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2020
This vulnerability exists within Samsung's Android 10.0 (Q) mobile device implementation where the Dynamic Lockscreen Terms and Conditions functionality can be bypassed without proper authentication mechanisms. The flaw allows unauthorized users to accept terms and conditions that are typically required to be authenticated before proceeding with lockscreen configuration. This represents a significant security weakness in the device's authorization framework where the system fails to enforce proper authentication checks during critical user interaction flows.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication validation within the Dynamic Lockscreen Terms and Conditions acceptance process. When users attempt to configure their lockscreen settings, the system should require proper authentication before accepting terms and conditions. However, the implementation fails to properly verify user credentials or session state before allowing acceptance of these terms, creating an authentication bypass opportunity. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects Samsung's proprietary implementation of Android 10.0's lockscreen functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to lockscreen configuration. An attacker with physical access to a device could potentially manipulate lockscreen settings without proper authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in device security policies. This could enable malicious actors to bypass security features, modify access controls, or establish persistent access mechanisms. The vulnerability particularly affects devices where lockscreen security is critical for protecting user data and privacy, as it undermines the fundamental security model of device authentication and authorization.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques where an attacker can bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to system functions. The vulnerability also relates to the T1547.001 technique for hijacking system processes and T1566.001 for social engineering attacks that could exploit this weakness. Samsung's own security advisory SVE-2020-17079 indicates this was addressed through proper authentication enforcement mechanisms that validate user credentials before accepting terms and conditions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate software updates from Samsung to patch the authentication bypass mechanism. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest security patches available through Samsung's official update channels. Organizations managing Samsung devices should implement device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and monitor for unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any other similar authentication bypass opportunities within the device's interface frameworks. The remediation involves proper implementation of authentication checks that validate user identity before allowing acceptance of critical terms and conditions, ensuring that all system modifications require appropriate authorization before execution.