Actively exploited vulnerability

Samsung Mobile Devices: security bypass flaw under attack

CVE-2023-21492 · Samsung Mobile Devices Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Log File Vulnerability

Concerns everyone who uses it4.4 medium

What is affected

Samsung Mobile Devices are found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use them and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.

Samsung mobile devices running Android 11, 12, and 13 contain an insertion of sensitive information into log file vulnerability that allows a privileged, local attacker to conduct an address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass.

CISA's description

What an attacker can do

This is a security bypass flaw. It lets an attacker slip past a built-in protection, so warnings and checks that normally stop malicious content never appear.

How it is reached
Needs access to the device or a file opened on it
Access the attacker needs
An administrator account
Does the victim have to do something?
No, works without the victim doing anything

What to do

  1. Update Samsung Mobile Devices now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
  2. Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
  3. If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Action required by CISA for US federal agencies

Vendor advisories and fixes

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on May 19, 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by June 9, 2023, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 2.6% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 85% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 4.4 out of 10 (medium), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

Technical description

Kernel pointers are printed in the log file prior to SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows a privileged local attacker to bypass ASLR.

NIST National Vulnerability Database
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