CVE-2023-42547 in Account
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Use of implicit intent for sensitive communication vulnerability in startEmailValidationActivity in Samsung Account prior to version 14.5.00.7 allows attackers to access arbitrary file with Samsung Account privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42547 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung Account applications prior to version 14.5.00.7 where the use of implicit intents for sensitive communication creates an exploitable pathway for unauthorized access. This vulnerability resides within the startEmailValidationActivity component which improperly handles intent resolution, allowing malicious applications to craft and broadcast intents that target this specific activity without explicit permission checks.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from the improper use of implicit intents instead of explicit ones when launching the email validation activity. Implicit intents rely on intent filters defined in the Android manifest to resolve target components, whereas explicit intents directly specify the target component. When Samsung Account uses implicit intents for sensitive operations like email validation, it exposes the application to potential intent spoofing attacks where adversaries can intercept or manipulate the intent flow to access sensitive functionality.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-707, which addresses improper use of intents in Android applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage through intent manipulation. The flaw allows attackers to leverage the Samsung Account privilege context to access arbitrary files on the device, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should restrict file system operations to the legitimate application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access, as it enables attackers to potentially exfiltrate sensitive user data, modify account settings, or escalate privileges within the Samsung Account ecosystem. The exploitation requires minimal effort from threat actors who can simply broadcast a malicious intent that matches the implicit intent filter, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for users who have Samsung Account installed on their devices. Attackers can potentially access personal information, account credentials, or other sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's secure boundaries.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing explicit intent usage throughout the Samsung Account application, ensuring that all sensitive activities are launched through direct component references rather than relying on intent filters. The application should also implement proper intent validation and verification mechanisms to confirm the legitimacy of incoming intents before processing them. Additionally, Samsung should enforce stricter permission models and consider implementing additional security layers such as intent signatures or application-specific authentication tokens to prevent unauthorized intent spoofing attempts. The patch for version 14.5.00.7 should include comprehensive intent handling improvements that align with Android security best practices and reduce the attack surface for similar vulnerabilities.