CVE-2023-42549 in Account
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Use of implicit intent for sensitive communication vulnerability in startNameValidationActivity 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-2023-42549 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung Account applications prior to version 14.5.00.7, specifically within the startNameValidationActivity component. This issue stems from improper handling of implicit intents, which are Android components that can receive broadcasts from any application without explicit declaration of the sender. The flaw creates a dangerous pathway where malicious applications can exploit the implicit intent mechanism to gain unauthorized access to sensitive files and operations that should be restricted to the legitimate Samsung Account application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Samsung Account application fails to properly validate the source of incoming intents, particularly during name validation processes. Implicit intents are designed to allow applications to respond to system-wide actions without requiring explicit knowledge of which application will handle the intent. However, when sensitive operations are exposed through implicit intents without proper security checks, attackers can craft malicious intents that appear to come from legitimate sources. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where arbitrary applications can invoke the startNameValidationActivity with elevated privileges associated with the Samsung Account application, effectively bypassing the normal access controls and security boundaries that should protect sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it enables attackers to perform arbitrary file operations with the privileges of the Samsung Account application. This opens the door to potential data exfiltration, account compromise, and unauthorized modifications to sensitive user information. The Samsung Account application typically handles critical user authentication data, personal information, and synchronization settings that are protected by the application's security model. When an attacker can execute operations with the Samsung Account privileges, they gain access to a comprehensive set of user credentials, account settings, and potentially personal data that could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or further exploitation within the device ecosystem.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability according to CWE-707, which covers improper use of an implicit intent for sensitive communication, and it aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in Android security practices where implicit intents are used for sensitive operations without proper validation of intent sources. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or root access to exploit, making it accessible to any application installed on the device. The lack of proper intent validation creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by both malicious applications and sophisticated attackers who may use this vulnerability as a foothold for more extensive compromise of the device and user accounts.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Samsung Account version 14.5.00.7 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the patch addresses the core issue of improper intent validation. System administrators should implement security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider restricting application installation permissions on devices where this vulnerability exists. The fix typically involves implementing explicit intent validation, using the startActivity() method with proper intent filtering, and ensuring that sensitive operations are only accessible through properly authenticated and authorized channels. Additionally, security teams should review other applications that may be using implicit intents for sensitive operations and implement proper security controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from existing in the broader Android ecosystem.