CVE-2024-34614 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2024
Out-of-bound write in libsmat.so prior to SMR Aug-2024 Release 1 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-34614 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the libsmat.so library component that affects systems prior to the SMR August 2024 security release. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption defects and is particularly dangerous due to its potential for arbitrary code execution. The issue exists in the software supply chain where libsmat.so serves as a shared library component that multiple applications may depend upon, making the impact of this vulnerability widespread across affected systems.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper bounds checking within the memory management functions of the libsmat.so library. When processing certain input data or performing specific operations, the library fails to validate array indices or buffer limits before writing data to memory locations. This allows a local attacker to manipulate the program flow by writing data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program variables, return addresses, or function pointers. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through controlled input manipulation or by leveraging existing program execution paths that lead to the vulnerable code section.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system security and integrity since it requires only local access to exploit. Attackers with low-privilege user accounts can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges or execute malicious code with the same privileges as the affected application. The local execution requirement means that the attack vector is accessible to any user who has the ability to run programs on the target system, potentially including unprivileged users, service accounts, or compromised applications. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning in multi-user environments or systems where privilege separation is not properly enforced.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or perform lateral movement within the compromised system. The out-of-bounds write condition can be exploited using various techniques including return-oriented programming or function pointer overwrites to gain full control over the execution flow. This vulnerability aligns with the common weakness enumeration CWE-787 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions and represents a fundamental flaw in memory safety that violates secure coding practices. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation technique through memory corruption, potentially leading to lateral movement and data exfiltration activities.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of systems running versions of libsmat.so prior to the SMR August 2024 release to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and data execution prevention can provide additional layers of defense. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems utilizing the vulnerable library and ensure proper access controls are implemented to limit local user privileges where possible. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be enhanced to detect similar memory corruption issues in other system components that may present similar attack surfaces.