CVE-2018-20135: Samsung Galaxy Apps before 4.4.01.7 allows modification of the hostname used for load balancing on installations of applications through a man-in-the-...

Description

Samsung Galaxy Apps before 4.4.01.7 allows modification of the hostname used for load balancing on installations of applications through a man-in-the-middle attack. An attacker may trick Galaxy Apps into using an arbitrary hostname for which the attacker can provide a valid SSL certificate, and emulate the API of the app store to modify existing apps at installation time. The specific flaw involves an HTTP method to obtain the load-balanced hostname that enforces SSL only after obtaining a hostname from the load balancer, and a missing app signature validation in the application XML. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to achieve Remote Code Execution on the device. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12071.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

1.76%

75.1th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-295

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Samsung	Galaxy Apps	< 4.4.01.7

References

https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsbVendor Advisory
https://www.adyta.pt/en/2019/01/29/writeup-samsung-app-store-rce-via-mitm-2/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsbVendor Advisory
https://www.adyta.pt/en/2019/01/29/writeup-samsung-app-store-rce-via-mitm-2/Exploit, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jun 7, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-20135?

Samsung Galaxy Apps before 4.4.01.7 allows modification of the hostname used for load balancing on installations of applications through a man-in-the-middle attack. An attacker may trick Galaxy Apps into using an arbitrary hostname for which the attacker can provide a valid SSL certificate, and emulate the API of the app store to modify existing apps at installation time. The specific flaw involves an HTTP method to obtain the load-balanced hostname that enforces SSL only after obtaining a hostname from the load balancer, and a missing app signature validation in the application XML. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to achieve Remote Code Execution on the device. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-12071.

How severe is CVE-2018-20135?

Severity scoring for CVE-2018-20135 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 1.76% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2018-20135?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

How Strix Helps

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