CVE-2024-27368 in Exynos 980
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2024
An issue was discovered in Samsung Mobile Processor Exynos Mobile Processor, Wearable Processor Exynos 980, Exynos 850, Exynos 1080, Exynos 1280, Exynos 1380, Exynos 1330, Exynos 1480, Exynos W920, Exynos W930. In the function slsi_rx_received_frame_ind(), there is no input validation check on a length coming from userspace, which can lead to a potential heap over-read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27368 affects Samsung's Exynos mobile processors including various models from the 980, 850, 1080, 1280, 1380, 1330, 1480, W920, and W930 series. This issue resides within the slsi_rx_received_frame_ind() function which handles wireless communication frame processing in the system. The flaw represents a classic input validation weakness that occurs when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being processed by kernel-level code. The vulnerability specifically targets heap memory management where a length parameter derived from userspace is directly used without adequate validation checks, creating a potential pathway for memory corruption attacks.
This heap over-read vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking in the wireless communication subsystem of Samsung's mobile processors. The function processes received frame indicators from wireless interfaces where user applications or external devices can inject malicious data. When the length parameter exceeds expected boundaries, the system attempts to read beyond allocated heap memory regions, potentially exposing sensitive kernel memory contents or causing system instability. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and is classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure or system compromise. The attack vector requires an attacker to have access to userspace execution capabilities to inject malicious frame data that triggers the vulnerable code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it affects the security posture of Samsung mobile devices running affected Exynos processors. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially extract sensitive kernel memory contents including cryptographic keys, credentials, or other confidential information stored in memory. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where devices frequently process wireless communications from multiple sources and where users may inadvertently interact with malicious wireless networks or applications. The exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, device compromise, or information leakage that violates the principle of least privilege and could be leveraged for further attacks within the device ecosystem. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privilege escalation vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27368 should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the wireless communication subsystem. The most effective approach involves adding comprehensive bounds checking to validate all length parameters before they are processed by the slsi_rx_received_frame_ind() function. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates that address this specific validation gap, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being used in memory operations. Additionally, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, heap metadata validation, and address space layout randomization can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level code and reinforces the need for regular security assessments of wireless communication stacks in mobile processors. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous wireless frame patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.