External risk intelligence

Samsung Android Kernel Panic Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2021-25489

A vulnerability in Samsung Android devices affects the modem interface driver, potentially causing a kernel panic. This impacts system stability and availability for affected organizations and their employees. The realistic business risk involves service disruption if an attacker gains the necessary permissions to trig

1Halo Surface Signal

Samsung Android

8.19.010.011.0

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2021-25489

This vulnerability resides within a local modem interface driver on mobile devices, requiring local access to the device's subsystems to exploit. It is not a network-reachable service, web application, or edge gateway.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability exists in the modem interface driver of Samsung Android devices that can lead to a system-wide disruption. If an attacker gains the necessary radio permissions, a flaw in how the driver handles input can cause a format string bug. This bug can result in a kernel panic, effectively crashing the operating system and impacting device stability.

  • Modem interface driver
  • Missing input validation
  • Operating system crash

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability exists within a modem interface driver, which could allow an attacker to gain control of the system. This is achieved by exploiting a missing input validation, leading to a format string bug that ultimately causes a kernel panic. The impact on affected organizations could include system instability and potential unauthorized control.

  • Radio permission is gained.
  • Attacker triggers a format string bug.
  • Results in kernel panic.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A vulnerability in Samsung Android devices could allow an attacker with local access to cause a kernel panic. This occurs due to a format string bug in the modem interface driver, which can be triggered if radio permissions are obtained. The potential impact includes system instability and denial of service.

  • Attacker skill level: Moderate
  • Required access: Local access, radio permission
  • Business risk: System instability, denial of service

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability presents a risk to Samsung Android devices due to a format string bug in the modem interface driver. Successful exploitation could lead to a kernel panic, potentially impacting system stability and availability. The vulnerability is classified as internal, meaning an attacker would need local access to the device to exploit it.

  • Identify affected Samsung Android devices.
  • Reduce exposure by isolating affected systems.
  • Apply vendor updates and validate fixes.
  • Monitor for related system instability.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Samsung Android modem interface driver mentioned in CVE-2021-25489?

The modem interface driver is a component within Samsung Android devices responsible for handling communication through the modem. This driver is part of the device's operating system, enabling its cellular and radio functionalities. Vulnerabilities within this driver can have significant impacts on device stability and security.

What type of weakness does CVE-2021-25489 represent and how is it triggered?

CVE-2021-25489 is a format string bug, categorized under CWE-134. It arises from missing input validation in the modem interface driver. If an attacker gains the necessary radio permission, they can trigger this vulnerability, leading to a kernel panic.

How does the modem interface driver vulnerability in CVE-2021-25489 lead to a kernel panic?

A missing input validation flaw in the modem interface driver allows an attacker with radio permission to exploit a format string bug. This bug corrupts or overwrites critical system memory, ultimately causing the operating system's kernel to crash, resulting in a kernel panic.

What is the relevance of CVE-2021-25489 to a Samsung Android device's stability?

This vulnerability, CVE-2021-25489, directly impacts device stability. Exploitation can lead to a kernel panic, which is a critical system error causing the operating system to halt, making the device unstable and potentially unusable until it is rebooted.

What practical steps can be taken regarding CVE-2021-25489 on Samsung Android devices?

To address CVE-2021-25489, it is crucial to identify affected Samsung Android devices. Applying vendor-provided updates for the SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 or later is the primary remediation. Monitoring for system instability post-patching is also recommended.

References