CVE-2023-21518 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record was published on June 28, 2023, by Samsung Mobile. It pertains to an improper access control vulnerability in Samsung SearchWidget prior to version 3.3 in China models that allows untrusted applications to start arbitrary activity.

Understanding CVE-2023-21518

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-21518, including what it is, its impact, technical aspects, and how to mitigate and prevent exploitation.

What is CVE-2023-21518?

CVE-2023-21518 is an improper access control vulnerability found in Samsung SearchWidget, specifically in versions lower than 3.3 installed on China models. This flaw enables untrusted applications to initiate arbitrary activities, potentially leading to unauthorized access or malicious actions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21518

As a medium severity vulnerability with a base score of 4.4, the impact of CVE-2023-21518 lies in the ability of untrusted applications to bypass access controls and perform unauthorized activities through Samsung SearchWidget. This could result in privacy breaches, data manipulation, or other security compromises.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21518

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2023-21518.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Samsung SearchWidget versions less than 3.3 allows untrusted applications to start arbitrary activities due to improper access control mechanisms. This weakness can be exploited by attackers to bypass intended restrictions and carry out unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Samsung SearchWidget versions prior to 3.3 on China models are affected by this vulnerability. The exact impacted versions are unspecified, but any version below 3.3 falls under the vulnerable category.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-21518, untrusted applications take advantage of the improper access controls within Samsung SearchWidget to initiate activities that they are not authorized to perform. This exploitation can lead to security breaches and unauthorized interaction with the device.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers the steps that can be taken to address CVE-2023-21518, including immediate actions to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users and administrators should restrict the installation of untrusted applications and closely monitor the activities of installed apps to prevent unauthorized actions through Samsung SearchWidget. Implementing least privilege access controls can also help limit the impact of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Developers should implement secure access control mechanisms in their applications to prevent unauthorized activities, and users should regularly update their Samsung SearchWidget to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities and ensure a more secure experience.

Patching and Updates

Samsung Mobile should release patches or updates that address the improper access control vulnerability in the affected versions of Samsung SearchWidget. Users are advised to promptly install these patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation and enhance the security of their devices.