CVE-2018-21086 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A race condition leading to a double free vulnerability affecting Samsung mobile devices running L(5.x), M(6.0), and N(7.x) software.

Understanding CVE-2018-21086

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability on Samsung mobile devices that could potentially be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2018-21086?

The vulnerability involves a race condition in the vnswap_init_backing_storage function, resulting in a double free issue on Samsung devices with specific software versions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-21086

The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on affected devices, compromising user data and device functionality.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-21086

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a race condition in the vnswap_init_backing_storage function, leading to a double free on Samsung mobile devices running L(5.x), M(6.0), and N(7.x) software.

Affected Systems and Versions

Samsung mobile devices with L(5.x), M(6.0), and N(7.x) software

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or trigger a denial of service by leveraging the race condition in the affected function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-21086 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates from Samsung promptly
Monitor for any suspicious activities on the devices

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update device software and firmware
Implement security best practices to prevent and detect vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Samsung has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Ensure devices are updated with the latest patches.