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CVE-2018-21049: Google Android: Out-of-bounds Write

CVE-2018-21049 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists Google Android as the affected product. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x) and O(8.X) (Exynos chipsets) software. There is an arbitrary memory write in a Trustlet because a secure driver allows access to sensitive APIs. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12881 (November 2018).

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write

The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

Affected products

  • Google Android: 7.0; 7.1.0; 7.1.1; 7.1.2; 8.0; 8.1

References