CVE-2024-20841 in Account
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2024
Improper Handling of Insufficient Privileges in Samsung Account prior to version 14.8.00.3 allows local attackers to access data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20841 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within Samsung Account applications prior to version 14.8.00.3. This flaw stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and access controls, creating a pathway for local attackers to bypass intended security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly enforce privilege checks during data access operations, allowing unauthorized individuals to obtain sensitive information that should be restricted to authenticated users with appropriate permissions. Such improper handling of insufficient privileges creates a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the application's weak access control mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to protected data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security model where privilege validation occurs at inappropriate points in the execution flow or is completely omitted during critical data access operations. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the application's access control logic and potentially retrieve personal information, account credentials, or other sensitive data stored within the Samsung Account framework. The flaw operates at the application level rather than the system level, making it particularly concerning as it requires no elevated privileges to exploit and can be leveraged by any local user with access to the device. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control, and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking in security-critical operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20841 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential identity theft, account compromise, and unauthorized access to personal information managed through Samsung Account services. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive user data including but not limited to account credentials, personal identification information, device registration details, and other confidential data that Samsung Account users expect to be protected. The local nature of this attack means that any user with physical access to an affected device can potentially exploit this vulnerability without requiring network access or complex attack vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where devices may be lost, stolen, or accessed by unauthorized individuals, creating a significant risk for both individual users and enterprise environments that rely on Samsung Account services for device management and authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20841 primarily focus on immediate software updates and enhanced access control implementations. Samsung has addressed this vulnerability in version 14.8.00.3 and later releases through proper privilege validation mechanisms and strengthened access control checks. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched version and implement additional security measures such as device encryption, secure boot processes, and regular security assessments. Security professionals should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, making it a significant concern for defensive security operations that must account for local attack vectors and insufficient privilege validation in mobile application environments.