CVE-2023-42550 in Account
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Use of implicit intent for sensitive communication vulnerability in startSignIn 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-2023-42550 represents a critical security flaw in Samsung Account's implementation of implicit intent handling within the startSignIn function. This issue affects Samsung Account versions prior to 14.5.00.7 and stems from improper handling of Android intent mechanisms that should have been explicitly declared but were instead implicitly configured. The flaw resides in how the application processes authentication requests through implicit intents, creating an attack surface where malicious applications can intercept or manipulate sensitive communication flows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the misuse of Android's intent system where the startSignIn function relies on implicit intents rather than explicit ones for handling authentication flows. This design choice allows any application installed on the device to potentially intercept or inject data into the authentication process through broadcast receivers or service bindings that match the implicit intent filters. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Samsung Account application's ability to maintain secure communication channels during sign-in operations, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to access arbitrary files on the device with the privileges associated with the Samsung Account application. The attack vector leverages the implicit intent mechanism to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources that should be restricted to the legitimate Samsung Account application. This represents a significant compromise of user privacy and system security, as the attacker can potentially read, modify, or delete files that are normally protected by the application's privilege model. The impact extends beyond simple data access to potential account takeover and lateral movement within the device ecosystem.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in implicit intent handling and improper privilege management within mobile applications. This flaw also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1070 for indicator removal on host. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Samsung Account applications typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive user data, making this vulnerability a prime target for sophisticated threat actors seeking persistent access to mobile devices. The implicit intent mechanism creates a dangerous attack surface where any application can potentially intercept or manipulate authentication flows.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing explicit intent declarations throughout the Samsung Account application codebase, ensuring that all communication flows are properly secured with appropriate permission checks and validation mechanisms. The fix requires updating the application to use explicit intents for all sensitive communication channels and implementing proper intent verification before processing authentication requests. Organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as intent filtering and signature verification to prevent unauthorized applications from intercepting sensitive flows. Regular security audits of intent handling mechanisms and privilege escalation points should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases of the application.