A race condition in the MFC charger driver in Samsung Android devices, prior to the SMR MAY-2021 Release 1, allows local attackers to bypass signature checks if they can compromise radio privileges. This vulnerability has been classified with a CVSS score of 6.4, indicating a medium level of severity.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive functionalities within the affected devices. With the necessity for high privileges and local access, the exploitability is somewhat limited; however, it still poses a risk to users who may not have updated their devices.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, given that this vulnerability is present across multiple versions of the Android operating system on Samsung devices, potentially affecting a wide user base.
The urgency to address this vulnerability is heightened by its inclusion in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, highlighting its significance in the threat landscape.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2021-25395 vulnerability arises from a race condition in the MFC charger driver, allowing local attackers to bypass signature checks. This vulnerability affects Samsung Android devices, with a CVSS 3.1 score of 6.4, indicating medium severity. The vulnerability was published on June 11, 2021.
The relevant CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-362, which refers to a race condition, allowing for potential exploitation under the right circumstances.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the race condition in the MFC charger driver, which leads to a misuse of memory allocation and management. The attack vector is local, requiring high privileges to exploit, and the attack complexity is rated as high due to the necessary conditions to trigger the race condition.
No user interaction is required for exploitation, but an attacker must have high privileges. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all high, indicating significant potential damage if exploited.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of device capabilities. This risk is particularly concerning for users who may rely on their devices for sensitive operations.
The blast radius is amplified due to the fact that multiple Android versions and devices are affected. Organizations that fail to address this vulnerability effectively risk exposing sensitive information and functionalities.
Given the CVSS score and its presence in the KEV catalog, organizations should assess the urgency based on their operational context and implement necessary updates to mitigate this risk.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include Samsung Android versions 8.1, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0 prior to the SMR updates in May 2021. Organizations should update their devices to secure versions immediately.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply updates as per vendor instructions or discontinue the use of affected devices if updates are unavailable. Configuration hardening and monitoring for unusual device behavior can also help in detecting potential exploitation attempts.
For a comprehensive approach to vulnerability management, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to uncover additional weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, including unusual access patterns to the MFC charger driver and any anomalies in device behavior that might indicate a race condition being exploited.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-25395 lies in its demonstration of the risks associated with race conditions in critical components such as device drivers. Security teams should take this as a reminder of the necessity of robust testing and validation processes during software development.
This vulnerability highlights a pattern where local privilege exploitation can lead to significant security breaches. Organizations should reinforce the importance of timely updates and monitoring for known vulnerabilities.
Security practitioners are encouraged to review their update strategies and ensure that their devices are not left vulnerable due to outdated software. For further insights, organizations may want to explore our vulnerability management program to improve their security posture.
Additionally, investing in penetration testing methodology can help organizations identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
In conclusion, organizations should remain vigilant and proactive in their security practices to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-25395.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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