CVE-2018-21046 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A problem has been identified on Samsung smartphones running O(8.x) software where a USB device can lead to an exposure of clipboard data through the Emergency Dialer. This issue is documented as Samsung Vulnerability SVE-2018-12911, dated November 2018.

Understanding CVE-2018-21046

An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with O(8.x) software. There is clipboard Data Exposure via the Emergency Dialer upon connecting a USB device. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12911 (November 2018).

What is CVE-2018-21046?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability on Samsung smartphones that allows exposure of clipboard data through the Emergency Dialer when a USB device is connected.

The Impact of CVE-2018-21046

The vulnerability can potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive clipboard data on affected Samsung smartphones.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-21046

The technical details of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Vulnerability Type: Clipboard Data Exposure
Affected Devices: Samsung smartphones running O(8.x) software

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by connecting a USB device to the affected Samsung smartphone, triggering the exposure of clipboard data through the Emergency Dialer.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-21046, the following steps can be taken:

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid connecting unknown or untrusted USB devices to the smartphone.
Regularly update the device's software to the latest version.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement device security best practices such as using strong passwords and enabling encryption.
Be cautious when granting permissions to apps that access clipboard data.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Samsung and apply patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability.