CVE-2022-39904 is a vulnerability identified in Samsung Mobile Devices running Android versions Q (10), R (11), and S (12) prior to the December 2022 Security Maintenance Release (SMR). The issue is categorized under CWE-200, which involves the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. Specifically, this vulnerability arises within the Samsung Settings application, where sensitive data known as the Network Access Identifier (NAI) is exposed via system logs. The NAI typically contains user-specific identifiers used in network authentication processes, such as usernames or IMSI-like identifiers, which can be leveraged to track or profile users or potentially facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability allows local attackers—those with physical or local access to the device or user-level access—to retrieve this sensitive information from logs that should not be accessible to unauthorized parties. The exposure does not require remote exploitation or network access, nor does it require user interaction beyond local access. There are no known exploits in the wild reported for this vulnerability, and no official patch links were provided at the time of analysis, although it is noted that the issue was addressed in the SMR December 2022 release. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by leaking sensitive identifiers, but it does not directly affect system integrity or availability. The ease of exploitation is moderate, as it requires local access to the device and the ability to read system logs, which may be restricted on some devices depending on user privileges and device configurations.

For European organizations, the exposure of the Network Access Identifier on Samsung Mobile Devices can have several implications. Organizations that issue Samsung devices to employees, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, risk inadvertent leakage of user identifiers that could be used for profiling, targeted phishing, or social engineering attacks. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where user privacy and data protection are paramount under regulations like GDPR. The vulnerability could also aid attackers in lateral movement or reconnaissance if combined with other vulnerabilities or insider threats. While the vulnerability does not allow remote exploitation, the risk is significant in environments where devices may be lost, stolen, or accessed by unauthorized personnel. Additionally, the exposure of network identifiers could facilitate correlation attacks or tracking by malicious actors. The impact on confidentiality is moderate, but the potential for privacy violations and compliance issues elevates the risk profile for organizations operating within Europe.

To mitigate CVE-2022-39904, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Ensure all Samsung Mobile Devices are updated to the December 2022 SMR or later, which addresses this vulnerability. 2) Implement strict device access controls, including strong authentication and encryption, to prevent unauthorized local access to devices and their logs. 3) Restrict or monitor the use of debugging tools and log access on corporate devices to prevent exposure of sensitive information. 4) Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, including disabling unnecessary logging or restricting log access to privileged users only. 5) Educate users about the risks of local device access and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices promptly. 6) Conduct regular audits of device configurations and logs to detect any unauthorized access attempts. 7) For highly sensitive environments, consider additional endpoint protection solutions that can monitor and block unauthorized local access to system files and logs. These measures go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control and monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.