CVE-2017-18649Public exploit

Root boot via unchecked system image

Published Apr 7, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Boot integrity bypass in Samsung mobile devices with Android 7.x allows attackers to boot a crafted system image with root privileges. The Qualcomm MSM8998 bootloader accepts the supplied system image without performing an integrity check before booting it. Exploitation requires control of the device boot process and permits attacker-supplied system code to run with root privileges.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Boot integrity bypass in Samsung mobile devices with Android 7.x allows attackers to boot a crafted system image with root privileges. The Qualcomm MSM8998 bootloader accepts the supplied system image without performing an integrity check before booting it. Exploitation requires control of the device boot process and permits attacker-supplied system code to run with root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-18649
Published
Apr 7, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-354, T1404
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 7, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-354Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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