When it comes to technology, the user is never entirely secure. Despite of the security measures you take to protect your devices, there is always a chance that they could experience a security breach and become infected by the active cybercriminal. A while back, Project Zero Google’s cybersecurity team has issued a warning about the existence of various “holes” that might harm a number of Android-powered mobile devices. Also, a lot of them still need to be repaired.
Up to 18 vulnerabilities have been specifically identified in Samsung’s Exynos chips. A cybercriminal might take control of the impacted device with four of them.
According to Project Zero, skilled attackers may easily design a working exploit to covertly and remotely compromise compromised devices with a minimum amount of extra study and development.
In light of this, and in contrast to so many other malicious efforts, the on-duty cybercriminal would not even need to persuade the victim to click on a bad link and download malware. It might steal stored credentials and a variety of other private data from the victim by secretly breaking into the mobile device and taking complete control. According to Project Zero, knowing the phone number of the terminal you intend to assault is sufficient.
Given that Samsung is the component’s manufacturer, it goes without saying that the vulnerabilities affect a number of business phones. But, a number of other brands have also been impacted. Project Zero has already issued a warning to the manufacturers of mobile devices that will have this issue by the end of 2022. It does caution that not all businesses have yet provided an update that fixes it.
While waiting for the fix, “it is advised to disable Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling in your device settings.” Criminals who attempt it will be unable to remotely operate the “smartphone” in this way.
Affected smartphones
The Samsung-affected smartphone models include the S22, M33, M13, M12, A71, A53, A33, A21, A13, A12, and A04 models.
Vivo’s mobile devices, such as those in the S16, S15, S6, X70, X60, and X30 series;
Google has issues with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 devices as well.
The Exynos W920 chipset for wearables and the Exynos Auto T5123 chipset for automobiles are equivalent.