External risk intelligence

Samsung Android Kernel Panic Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2021-25370

A vulnerability in Samsung Android devices allows for memory corruption, potentially causing a system crash. This impacts device availability and data integrity. Exploitation requires local administrative privileges, presenting a moderate business risk.

1Halo Surface Signal

Use After Free

Samsung Android

8.08.19.010.011.0

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2021-25370

This vulnerability resides within a kernel-level device driver (dpu driver) on mobile devices. It requires local access to the hardware or underlying operating system to be triggered, and it is not reachable or exposed through network services or public-facing internet protocols.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability in Samsung Android mobile devices could lead to memory corruption. This flaw resides within the dpu driver and can cause a system-wide crash, known as a kernel panic. Such an event disrupts normal device operation and can affect the availability of services and data.

  • Vulnerable Samsung Android driver
  • Memory corruption leading to system crash
  • Disruption of device services and data

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

A vulnerability in a Samsung Android device driver allows for memory corruption, potentially leading to a kernel panic. This occurs due to an incorrect handling of file descriptors within the driver. The vulnerability requires a user with elevated privileges to trigger the memory corruption.

  • Local exposure with high privileges.
  • Attacker triggers file descriptor handling.
  • Results in memory corruption and kernel panic.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability impacts Samsung Android devices, potentially causing a kernel panic due to a memory corruption issue within the dpu driver. Exploitation requires a sophisticated attacker with administrative privileges on the affected device. While the attack vector is local, successful exploitation could lead to system instability and data integrity concerns, posing a business risk that warrants attention.

  • Attacker skill level: Highly skilled.
  • Required access or conditions: Local administrative access.
  • Business risk or urgency: Moderate.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability in the device driver for Samsung Android devices could lead to memory corruption and kernel panic. The risk is associated with local access to the device. Organizations should prioritize identifying and mitigating exposure to affected assets.

  • Identify all affected Samsung Android devices.
  • Isolate vulnerable devices from the network.
  • Apply vendor security updates and validate implementation.
  • Monitor systems for related suspicious activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the function of the dpu driver in Samsung Android devices and its impact?

The dpu driver in Samsung Android devices is a critical component responsible for display processing. It manages how visual information is rendered, directly impacting the graphical user interface and the overall visual experience on the device. An issue within this driver can lead to memory corruption and a system crash, known as a kernel panic, disrupting device operations and data availability.

What is the weakness class associated with CVE-2021-25370?

CVE-2021-25370 is categorized by an incorrect implementation weakness. Specifically, the dpu driver mishandles file descriptors, leading to memory corruption. This type of flaw relates to how resources are managed within the driver, ultimately causing a kernel panic.

How is CVE-2021-25370 triggered and what is its scope?

This vulnerability is triggered through an incorrect implementation in the dpu driver's handling of file descriptors. Exploitation requires local access to the device with high privileges. The scope of the vulnerability is limited to the affected device, as it does not extend beyond the kernel boundaries.

What is the relevance of CVE-2021-25370 for Samsung Android devices?

CVE-2021-25370 is relevant to Samsung Android devices due to a memory corruption flaw in the dpu driver, which can cause a kernel panic. Successful exploitation requires a highly skilled attacker with administrative privileges on the device. This poses a moderate business risk, affecting system stability and data integrity.

What operational steps should be taken to address CVE-2021-25370?

To address this vulnerability, organizations should identify all affected Samsung Android devices, isolate them from the network if possible, and apply vendor-provided security updates. It is crucial to validate the implementation of these updates and monitor systems for any suspicious activity related to this flaw.

References