CVE-2021-25401 in Health
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2021
Intent redirection vulnerability in Samsung Health prior to version 6.16 allows attacker to execute privileged action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2021
The intent redirection vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-25401 affects Samsung Health applications prior to version 6.16, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to manipulate application behavior through improper intent handling. This vulnerability resides in the Android application's intent resolution mechanism, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming intents that could be used to trigger privileged operations. The flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted intents that redirect application flow to unintended components, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive health data or execution of privileged actions within the application context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Samsung Health application's intent processing logic. When the application receives an intent from an external source, it does not sufficiently verify the intent's origin or validate that the target component is authorized to receive such requests. This creates an attack surface where an attacker can construct malicious intents that appear legitimate to the application but actually redirect execution to unauthorized components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-745, which addresses improper control of generation of code, specifically in scenarios involving intent redirection and component manipulation. The flaw essentially allows for a form of privilege escalation where unprivileged intent receivers can be tricked into executing code or accessing resources they should not normally be able to reach.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to user privacy and data security within the Samsung Health ecosystem. Health applications contain highly sensitive personal information including medical histories, fitness data, and biometric measurements that could be exploited by attackers. The ability to execute privileged actions through intent redirection means that an attacker could potentially access protected health data, modify user profiles, or even manipulate application settings that affect data collection and storage. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into launching crafted intents. This represents a substantial risk to user privacy and could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks targeting health data for identity theft, insurance fraud, or other malicious purposes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through the manipulation of Android intents to execute unauthorized operations.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of Samsung Health version 6.16 or later, which includes proper intent validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement mobile application security monitoring to detect unusual intent handling patterns and establish secure coding practices for intent processing. Security patches should include proper intent origin verification, component authorization checks, and implementation of intent filtering mechanisms to prevent unauthorized redirection. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of keeping health applications updated. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure intent handling in Android applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic analysis of intent processing flows. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious intent patterns to further protect against similar vulnerabilities in other applications.