CVE-2024-20878 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Heap out-of-bound write vulnerability in parsing grid image in libsavscmn.so prior to SMR June-2024 Release 1 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The heap out-of-bounds write vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20878 resides within the libsavscmn.so library component, specifically affecting systems prior to the SMR June-2024 Release 1 security patch. This vulnerability manifests during the parsing of grid images, representing a critical flaw that enables local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution. The issue stems from improper bounds checking within the memory management routines of the image parsing functionality, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent heap memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of grid image data structures where the application fails to validate array indices or buffer sizes before writing data to heap-allocated memory. When processing malformed grid image inputs, the parsing routine does not properly verify that write operations remain within allocated memory boundaries, resulting in a heap buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write operations in heap memory. The flaw represents a direct violation of memory safety principles and can be leveraged by attackers who possess local system access to craft malicious grid image files that trigger the vulnerable code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to escalate privileges and compromise system integrity. Local attackers who can influence the processing of grid images can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's local attack surface means that exploitation requires only access to the target system, making it particularly concerning for environments where local user access is not strictly controlled. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for local privilege escalation, representing the typical attack progression following successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20878 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patch from the SMR June-2024 Release 1, which includes fixed implementations of the grid image parsing routines with proper bounds checking. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly those running versions of the software prior to the mentioned security release. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as heap hardening, address space layout randomization, and stack canaries can provide defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous grid image processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, as demonstrated by the CWE-121 classification for stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can occur in similar parsing scenarios.