CVE-2020-8899 in Product
Summary
by MITRE
There is a buffer overwrite vulnerability in the Quram qmg library of Samsung's Android OS versions O(8.x), P(9.0) and Q(10.0). An unauthenticated, unauthorized attacker sending a specially crafted MMS to a vulnerable phone can trigger a heap-based buffer overflow in the Quram image codec leading to an arbitrary remote code execution (RCE) without any user interaction. The Samsung ID is SVE-2020-16747.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8899 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Samsung's Quram qmg library implementation in Android operating systems version 8.x, 9.0, and 10.0. This flaw exists within the Quram image codec component that processes multimedia messages, specifically affecting the handling of malformed MMS content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking during the parsing of image data within the MMS processing pipeline. The affected Quram library is part of Samsung's proprietary multimedia processing framework that handles various image formats including those used in mobile messaging applications. This buffer overflow condition occurs when the library attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries while processing specially crafted image payloads contained within malicious MMS messages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables an attacker to achieve arbitrary remote code execution through a carefully constructed malicious MMS message delivered to a vulnerable device. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that memory corruption occurs in the heap memory region rather than on the stack, making the exploitation more complex but equally dangerous. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction or authentication to trigger, allowing attackers to execute code remotely simply by sending a malicious MMS. The attack vector leverages the automatic processing of MMS content by the Android messaging framework, which typically downloads and processes images without explicit user confirmation. The lack of authentication requirements and user interaction makes this vulnerability extremely dangerous in real-world scenarios where users may unknowingly receive and process malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full device compromise and persistent access to victim systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the affected device, potentially accessing sensitive user data, communications, and system resources. The vulnerability affects all Samsung devices running Android versions 8.0 through 10.0, representing a substantial user base that could be compromised. The exploitation chain involves the attacker sending a malicious MMS containing a specially crafted image file that triggers the buffer overflow when the device automatically processes the message. This type of vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Exploitation for Client Execution" and "Remote Code Execution" categories. The vulnerability is classified as a heap overflow issue under CWE-121, which specifically addresses the condition where data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated buffer size, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution.
The security implications of CVE-2020-8899 extend to enterprise and individual user environments where Samsung devices are prevalent, particularly in corporate settings where mobile devices handle sensitive business information. The vulnerability's ability to trigger without user interaction makes it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks where attackers can silently compromise devices in the field. Organizations should consider implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious MMS content and ensure timely deployment of security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in mobile security where proprietary multimedia libraries can contain critical flaws that affect millions of devices. Samsung's response through the SVE-2020-16747 identifier indicates proper vulnerability disclosure and patch development, but the widespread nature of affected Android versions means that many devices may remain vulnerable until users update their systems. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in mobile multimedia processing components and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party libraries integrated into mobile operating systems.