Samsung's Secure Folder, a feature designed to provide industry-grade security for sensitive data on Galaxy smartphones, has been identified to have a major flaw. Recent discoveries indicate that apps and images saved in the Secure Folder can be accessible under certain conditions, raising concerns about the privacy and security of the data stored there.
Modus operandi
The Secure Folder acts as a "Work" profile, allowing users to keep private apps, images, and files separate from their primary profile. Normally, when an app seeks to access files from the Secure Folder, the system prevents it unless the app is specifically approved.
However, a Reddit user named lawyerz88 revealed that this security feature is ineffective when utilising a "Work" app (with a media picker) linked to a separate work profile. In that instance, files stored in the Secure Folder become available via the app. So it is not difficult to circumvent the intended privacy protections.
“If you have the work profile enabled through something like Island or Shelter (or you know, your actual workplace), any apps in the work profile can access the entirety of files saved in a secure folder without any restrictions whatsoever.” notes the Reddit user. “It seems it’s restricted by policy only and only from the personal profile and someone forgot to restrict access via another work profile.”
Android Authority confirmed the flaw with the Shelter app, which allows you to create a work profile on any device. This means that anyone with physical access to a Galaxy smartphone might use this flaw to view Secure Folder data.
Samsung's claim of strong security is called into question by this defect, since private data kept in the Secure Folder can be accessed without the owner's knowledge.While accessing the Secure Folder usually requires biometric authentication or a PIN/password, the workaround via Work applications renders these safeguards ineffective.
The tech giant reportedly acknowledged that they were aware of the user's findings after he reported them.
The firm recently rectified the boot loop issue linked with the Secure Folder, and now that more people are aware of it, we hope it is resolved as quickly as possible.