If you use a Samsung Android device, you probably enjoy slick widgets, notifications, and pop-ups powered by something called RemoteViews. But what if I told you that, until recently, there was a way for attackers to trick your system into launching activities they shouldn’t—possibly without you even touching your screen? That’s exactly what the security vulnerability CVE-2022-30710 enabled.

Let’s break down what happened, how it works, and why it matters—using plain language, code snippets, and real-world analogies.

Published: June 2022 by Samsung

- Impact: Improper validation in Samsung’s implementation of RemoteViews could let attackers launch unwanted activities on your device.

Patched in: SMR Jun-2022 Release 1 (Samsung Security Maintenance Release)

Original reference:  
Samsung Security Advisory - SVE-2022-0738 (CVE-2022-30710)

What’s RemoteViews and Why Does It Matter?

RemoteViews lets apps show and update their widgets and notifications, even on other apps’ screens. Imagine you have a clock widget that shows alarm time. When you tap it, you expect a clock app to open—not some random app.

If there’s a flaw, like improper validation, attackers can sneak in other actions instead.

The Problem: Improper Activity Launch

In protected, locked-down systems like Android, apps shouldn’t be able to launch arbitrary activities (screens, new apps) without permission. There needs to be strict validation—a guard check—on what gets started, especially if it’s coming from a widget or notification.

Samsung’s version of RemoteViews, before the June 2022 patch, had a bug: it didn’t properly verify what activity should open when a widget tried to launch something. An attacker could craft a malicious RemoteViews object that tricks the system into starting, say, a hidden settings screen or another vulnerable app component, bypassing the normal protections.

See the Bug in Action (With Pseudocode)

Let’s walk through a simplified version of how an attacker could abuse this flaw.

Suppose the system (incorrectly) processes an incoming RemoteViews intent like this

// Samsung's vulnerable code (simplified)
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    RemoteViews remoteViews = intent.getParcelableExtra("remoteViews");
    // No proper validation here!
    remoteViews.apply(context, widgetView);
}

A crafted attack might look like this

// Attacker's malicious RemoteViews
Intent maliciousIntent = new Intent();
maliciousIntent.setComponent(new ComponentName(
    "com.android.settings",  // Targeting a system app
    "com.android.settings.Settings$HiddenActivity" // Hidden/unsafe activity
));

PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(context, , maliciousIntent, );

// Build RemoteViews pointing to the attack
RemoteViews rv = new RemoteViews(context.getPackageName(), R.layout.widget_bug);
rv.setOnClickPendingIntent(R.id.widget_button, pendingIntent);

// Broadcast to vulnerable component
Intent evil = new Intent("com.samsung.widget.UPDATE");
evil.putExtra("remoteViews", rv);
context.sendBroadcast(evil);

Expected behavior: Only safe/intended activities should be started.  
Actual (vulnerable) behavior: The user’s device could begin any activity specified by the attacker’s RemoteViews object.

Before the patch, here’s how an attack could happen

1. Craft Malicious Widget: Attacker’s app generates a RemoteViews object which, on interaction, has a button wired to a sensitive or internal Android screen (like Wi-Fi settings, or worse, an activity that’s part of a less-protected app).

Send It to the System: This is broadcast or pushed via the vulnerable RemoteViews interface.

3. Device Launches the Activity: User clicks the widget or notification, and suddenly a restricted part of the OS (or another app) opens, possibly exposing private information or allowing further attacks.

Attackers could even dispatch such intents without user interaction, depending on the widget’s functionality.

How Was It Fixed?

Samsung patched this in SMR June-2022 Release 1 by adding proper validation, making sure that only activities belonging to the widget/app or verified, safe activities can be launched from RemoteViews.

If you’re a developer or device owner, updating your device or app is *essential*.

Additional References

- CVE Assignment: CVE-2022-30710
- Samsung June 2022 Security Bulletin
- Android RemoteViews Documentation

Summary Table

| Name                  | Platform  | Impact                                              | Patched |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------|
| CVE-2022-30710        | Samsung   | Arbitrary and unintended activities could be launched| Jun 2022 Release 1 |

Closing Thoughts

Small mistakes, like improper validation, can enable dangerous attacks—even in big brands like Samsung. If you’re a user, keep your phone up to date. If you’re a developer, never trust input from the outside without strong validation.

Stay safe, and keep an eye out for those security bulletins!


If you have an older Samsung device, head over to Settings ⇒ Software Update and grab the latest release. Don’t let vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-30710 put your data at risk.

Timeline

Published on: 06/07/2022 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 06/11/2022 01:56:00 UTC