Samsung Exynos devices kernel vulnerability
A security vulnerability affecting Samsung devices has recently been discovered by members of the XDA Developers forum. According to the information posted on the forum, all Samsung devices with an Exynos chip may be affected by this including the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note 10.1 and others.
It is a kernel vulnerability that provides attackers with root and read and write access to all physical memory. If that would not be bad enough, it can be exploited by malicious apps that get installed via Google's Play store or by sideloading them to the device. No root or modification is necessary for this to happen, which effectively means that any specifically prepared application can exploit the vulnerability on affected phones.
What makes this vulnerability that dangerous is that it can be exploited by applications users install straight from Google Play, and that users may not even become aware of what is happening in the background after they have installed the app on their phone.
Samsung phones owners who use a phone with an Exynos chip need to take extra care when they install apps on their phones. It is highly suggested to only install applications from trusted sources and even there, double and triple check before the app is installed.
Forum members are already working on temporary fixes that protect Samsung devices from exploits of the vulnerability and quick patches seem to protect rooted Samsung phones already.
According to information posted on the forum, Samsung has been notified about the issue. There has been no reaction so far though.
Update: Exynos Abuse has been released on the forum which uses the security vulnerability to gain root privileges to installer SuperSu on devices. It then allows you to disable the exploit or re-enable if in case you do need it again. Note that it may break the phone's camera and the developer notes that this is a workaround and not an actual fix.
Please note that there is always risk involved when installing applications on your phone, and especially so if you install them from third party sources.
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Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.
He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.
Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?
Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?
Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.
The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.
It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.
> The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…
Sadly, I have to agree.
Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.
If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!
We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.
because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…
“Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.
How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.
Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.
Sorry posted on the wrong page.
such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time
I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.
I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S
Quoting the article,
“As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”
Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?
I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.
@John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]
This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.
> Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.
Firefox did this long before Safari.
Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.