CVE-2019-20556 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been found on certain Samsung mobile devices running P(9.0) software, allowing attackers to manipulate the effective address in EL2.

Understanding CVE-2019-20556

This CVE identifies a vulnerability known as RKP memory corruption affecting Samsung mobile devices.

What is CVE-2019-20556?

The vulnerability enables attackers to control the effective address in EL2 on Samsung devices with specific software versions.
The issue was identified in October 2019 with the Samsung ID assigned as SVE-2019-15221.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20556

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to potentially gain unauthorized access and manipulate system memory.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20556

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves RKP memory corruption on Samsung devices running P(9.0) software.

Affected Systems and Versions

Samsung mobile devices with P(9.0) software, including SM6150, SM8150, SM8150_FUSION, exynos7885, exynos9610, and exynos9820 chipsets.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability to control the effective address in EL2, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-20556 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by Samsung to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor official sources for any security advisories related to this issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update device software to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Implement security best practices to mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by Samsung for the affected devices to address the vulnerability.