CVE-2022-25816 in Lock App
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
Improper authentication in Samsung Lock and mask apps setting prior to SMR Mar-2022 Release 1 allows attacker to change enable/disable without authentication
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25816 represents a critical authentication flaw within Samsung's Lock and mask application settings that affected devices prior to the March 2022 Security Maintenance Release. This weakness resides in the application's handling of user authentication mechanisms, specifically within the configuration settings that control lock and mask functionalities. The flaw allows unauthorized modification of security settings without proper user verification, fundamentally undermining the security posture of affected Samsung devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user credentials when attempting to modify lock and mask application settings. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass normal authentication procedures and directly manipulate the application's security configurations. This improper authentication mechanism creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation, where malicious actors can enable or disable security features without presenting valid authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's internal permission model and access control implementation, where the system fails to properly verify user identity before allowing configuration changes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to Samsung device users who rely on lock and mask applications for protecting sensitive data and maintaining privacy. The ability to modify security settings without authentication means that attackers could potentially disable security features, enable unauthorized access points, or manipulate the application's behavior to compromise device security. This flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to protected information, making it particularly dangerous for users who depend on these applications for enterprise security or personal data protection.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 related to abuse of authentication tokens. Organizations and individual users affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the March 2022 Security Maintenance Release, reviewing application permissions, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation, enhanced monitoring of application settings changes, and regular security audits of mobile device configurations. The remediation process requires comprehensive system updates and verification that proper authentication mechanisms are restored to prevent future exploitation attempts.