Samsung Mobile Devices Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Log File
CVE-2023-21492 is a medium-severity insertion of sensitive information into log file vulnerability in Samsung Mobile Devices from Samsung, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version SMR May-2023 Release 1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Samsung Mobile Devices to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on May 19, 2023, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Samsung Mobile Devices to SMR May-2023 Release 1 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Read the advisory on security.samsungmobile.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Mobile | Samsung Mobile Devices | Selected Android 11, 12, 13 devices up to, but not including, SMR May-2023 Release 1 | SMR May-2023 Release 1 |
| Samsung | Android | 11.0; 12.0; 13.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.4 | Medium | CNA (samsung.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.4 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
Kernel pointers are printed in the log file prior to SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows a privileged local attacker to bypass ASLR.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
The product writes sensitive information to a log file.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Consider seriously the sensitivity of the information written into log files. Do not write secrets into the log files.
- Remove debug log files before deploying the application into production.
- Protect log files against unauthorized read/write.
More Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File vulnerabilities (CWE-532)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-21492US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Samsung Mobile Devices
- 8.6 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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