CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-30643NVD status: Modified

Samsung Mobile Devices: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-30643 is a high-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in Samsung Mobile Devices from Samsung, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Samsung Mobile Devices you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on security.samsungmobile.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Samsung MobileSamsung Mobile DevicesNot specified in the recordNot stated
SamsungAndroid11.0; 12.0; 13.0Not 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
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.7HighCNA (samsung.com)
CVSS 3.17.1HighNVD

Official description

Missing authentication vulnerability in Galaxy Themes Service prior to SMR Jul-2023 Release 1 allows local attackers to delete arbitrary non-preloaded applications.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
  • When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.

More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Samsung Mobile Devices

All Samsung Mobile Devices vulnerabilities

Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.