CVE-2024-20848 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2024
Out-of-bound Write vulnerability in text parsing implementation of libsdffextractor prior to SMR Apr-2023 Release 1 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20848 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the text parsing functionality of libsdffextractor library. This issue affects versions prior to the SMR April 2023 Release 1, indicating that the vulnerability has been present in the codebase for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this weakness for arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in the library's text parsing implementation, which suggests that applications relying on this component for processing structured data may be susceptible to this type of attack. The out-of-bounds write condition typically occurs when a program attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of a buffer, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 category of out-of-bounds write conditions, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that directly enables privilege escalation and code execution attacks. The local nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation requires an attacker to already have access to the system, typically through legitimate user accounts or services running with elevated privileges. The attack vector involves manipulating input data that gets processed by the vulnerable text parsing functions, potentially causing the application to write data beyond intended memory boundaries and corrupting adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can lead to complete system compromise when successfully exploited, as the attacker can overwrite critical program memory locations including return addresses or function pointers.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20848 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, escalate privileges, or even establish persistent backdoors within affected systems. Applications using libsdffextractor for processing text-based data formats, such as structured documents or data extraction tasks, become vulnerable to this attack. The vulnerability's presence in a library used for data extraction suggests that it could affect various enterprise applications, content management systems, or document processing software that depend on this component. Given the local execution requirement, attackers typically need to gain initial access through other means such as social engineering, credential compromise, or exploiting other vulnerabilities before they can leverage this specific weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20848 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of libsdffextractor released as part of the SMR April 2023 update. Organizations should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing this library and ensure timely patch deployment. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the attack surface by preventing malformed data from reaching the vulnerable parsing functions. Network segmentation and privilege separation can also limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while application whitelisting and secure coding practices should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.