CVE-2024-31960 Overview
CVE-2024-31960 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting Samsung Mobile Processors Exynos 1480 and Exynos 2400. The vulnerability exists in the xclipse amdgpu driver, where a reference count bug can lead to memory being freed while still in use. This type of memory corruption vulnerability can potentially allow an attacker with local access to achieve code execution with elevated privileges on affected devices.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, potentially compromising the entire device and its data.
Affected Products
- Samsung Exynos 1480 Mobile Processor
- Samsung Exynos 1480 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 2400 Mobile Processor
- Samsung Exynos 2400 Firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-09-10 - CVE-2024-31960 published to NVD
- 2024-09-24 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-31960
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability (CWE-416: Use After Free) is a memory corruption issue in the xclipse amdgpu driver used by Samsung Exynos 1480 and Exynos 2400 mobile processors. The driver incorrectly manages reference counts for memory objects, resulting in a situation where memory can be freed while still being referenced by other parts of the system. When subsequent operations attempt to access this freed memory, they encounter corrupted or controlled data, leading to undefined behavior.
Use-after-free vulnerabilities in GPU drivers are particularly concerning because they operate in kernel space with high privileges. The xclipse driver, which is Samsung's implementation based on AMD GPU technology for mobile processors, handles complex memory management operations for graphics processing. The reference counting mechanism is essential for tracking how many components are using a particular memory object, and errors in this tracking can have severe security implications.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2024-31960 is a reference count management bug in the xclipse amdgpu driver. Reference counting is a memory management technique where each memory object maintains a count of how many references point to it. When the count reaches zero, the memory is freed. In this case, the driver incorrectly decrements or fails to properly increment the reference count, causing the memory to be freed prematurely while other components still hold references to it.
Attack Vector
This vulnerability requires local access to exploit, meaning an attacker would need to execute code on the affected device. The attack could be carried out through a malicious application installed on the device that makes specific calls to the GPU driver to trigger the reference count bug. Once the use-after-free condition is achieved, an attacker could potentially:
- Allocate controlled data in the freed memory region
- Trigger the driver to access the freed memory
- Manipulate program execution flow through the corrupted memory state
- Achieve arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges
The vulnerability does not require user interaction once the malicious application is running, and exploitation can be achieved without special privileges beyond those needed to make GPU driver calls.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-31960
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected kernel panics or device crashes related to GPU operations
- Anomalous memory access patterns in GPU driver operations
- Unusual behavior from applications making intensive GPU driver calls
- System instability during graphics-intensive operations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for unusual GPU driver activity and memory allocation patterns
- Implement kernel-level integrity monitoring to detect memory corruption
- Deploy mobile threat defense solutions capable of detecting exploit attempts
- Analyze application behavior for suspicious GPU-related system calls
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable kernel logging to capture GPU driver errors and warnings
- Monitor device health metrics for signs of memory corruption
- Implement application vetting to identify potentially malicious GPU-intensive apps
- Regularly review Samsung security bulletins for firmware update availability
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-31960
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the latest firmware updates from Samsung for affected Exynos processors
- Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources
- Implement mobile device management (MDM) policies to enforce security updates
- Monitor affected devices for signs of exploitation attempts
Patch Information
Samsung has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Administrators and users should apply the latest firmware updates available through their device manufacturer or carrier. For detailed patch information, refer to the Samsung CVE-2024-31960 Advisory and the Samsung Product Security Updates page.
Workarounds
- Limit application installation to trusted sources such as official app stores
- Avoid running untrusted applications that require GPU access
- Consider temporarily disabling or limiting GPU-intensive features until patches are applied
- Implement network-level controls to prevent potentially malicious applications from being downloaded
# Verify device firmware version on Android devices
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Check for available system updates through device settings
# Settings > Software Update > Download and install
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
