CVE-2022-33726 in Galaxy Friends
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2022
Unprotected dynamic receiver in Samsung Galaxy Friends prior to SMR Aug-2022 Release 1 allows attacker to launch activity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33726 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung Galaxy Friends application prior to the SMR August 2022 security release. This issue stems from improper protection of dynamic receivers within the Android application framework, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to execute unauthorized activities. The vulnerability specifically affects the Samsung Galaxy Friends application, which serves as a social networking platform integrated into Samsung's ecosystem, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data and device integrity.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of Android Intent receivers within the application's manifest file. Dynamic receivers are components that can be registered programmatically at runtime rather than being statically declared in the AndroidManifest.xml file. When these receivers lack proper security protections such as intent filters that restrict their exposure to external applications, they become accessible to malicious actors who can craft specific intents to trigger unauthorized actions. This flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where the application fails to properly restrict access to its components, allowing unauthorized execution of potentially harmful operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to launch activities within the Galaxy Friends application without proper authentication or authorization. This capability allows threat actors to perform unauthorized actions such as accessing user contacts, manipulating social network data, or potentially escalating privileges to execute more dangerous operations within the application's context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a social networking application that typically contains sensitive user information and personal data, making it an attractive target for data exfiltration and user manipulation attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access or create malicious social engineering campaigns that exploit the trust users place in the application.
The attack surface created by this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and application execution. Adversaries can utilize this weakness to move laterally within the device environment and potentially gain access to other applications or system components that share the same user context. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a widely used Samsung application, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise a large number of devices. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability often serves as a stepping stone for more complex attacks, where initial unauthorized activity can lead to full device compromise. Organizations and users should prioritize updating to the SMR August 2022 release or later versions that contain the necessary patches to address this specific weakness in dynamic receiver protection.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires implementing proper security controls around dynamic receiver registration, including restricting intent filters to prevent unauthorized external access and ensuring that all receivers are properly protected with appropriate permissions. Samsung's security update for this vulnerability included modifications to how dynamic receivers are registered and validated within the Galaxy Friends application, effectively closing the attack vector that allowed unauthorized activity launching. This fix demonstrates the importance of proper Android security practices, including the principle of least privilege and proper intent handling, which are fundamental requirements for maintaining application integrity and user data protection in mobile environments.