CVE-2024-34661 in Samsung Assistant
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2024
Improper handling of insufficient permissions in Samsung Assistant prior to version 9.1.00.7 allows remote attackers to access location data. User interaction is required for triggering this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-34661 represents a critical permission handling flaw within Samsung Assistant, a system application designed to provide intelligent assistance and automation features on Samsung devices. This weakness exists in versions prior to 9.1.00.7 and stems from inadequate validation of user permissions during location data access operations. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly enforce access controls, creating an avenue for unauthorized data exposure. The vulnerability specifically targets the location services component of the Samsung Assistant application, where insufficient permission checks allow malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper access control mechanisms within the Samsung Assistant framework that governs how location data is retrieved and processed. When users interact with the application, particularly through features that require location services, the system should validate whether appropriate permissions have been granted before allowing access to geolocation information. However, in affected versions, the application fails to properly verify these permissions, enabling remote attackers to exploit this gap. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be triggered, meaning that an attacker must first convince a user to perform a specific action within the application context, such as opening a particular feature or responding to a prompt. This user interaction requirement aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack tree model of the attack framework.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant privacy and security risks for Samsung device users. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to precise location data, potentially enabling location-based tracking, geofencing attacks, or other location-sensitive malicious activities. The implications extend beyond simple data exposure, as location information often serves as a critical component in various attack vectors including social engineering, targeted attacks, or coordinated malicious activities. The vulnerability affects all Samsung devices running affected versions of the Samsung Assistant application, potentially impacting millions of users across multiple device models and operating system versions.
The flaw can be categorized under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control, and aligns with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control communications and T1566 for credential access. The vulnerability's remediation requires proper implementation of permission validation mechanisms and enforcement of access control policies. Samsung has addressed this issue in version 9.1.00.7 and later, implementing proper permission checking procedures and strengthening access control boundaries within the Samsung Assistant application. Organizations should prioritize updating affected devices to the latest version and consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual location data access patterns as part of their overall security posture. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper access control implementation in mobile applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor permission handling flaws can result in significant security implications.