Samsung has started to push software updates to some users of its Galaxy branded phones this week, fixing a flaw that was found affecting devices containing Exynos processors shortly before Christmas.
The update addresses a root exploit developed by XDA Developers forum member Alephzain two and a half weeks ago that allows malicious application installation and kernel code injection. The exploit also can also grant applications the ability to read the device’s RAM and physical memory among other things.
According to SamMobile, a Samsung community fan site, Samsung customers in the UK reportedly began receiving the 19300XXELLA update over-the-air and via Kies, the company’s PC-to-phone software, on Wednesday. The bug had previously affected Samsung devices powered by the Exynos 4210 and 4412 processors.
Phandroid notes the fix also updates the phone’s bootloader, suggesting it may remedy a recent “sudden death” problem that’s plagued phones like the Galaxy S III, causing them to shut off for no apparent reason.
Samsung acknowledged the issue before Christmas, claiming it would “provide a software update to address it as quickly as possible,” insisting the exploit wouldn’t affect most devices as long as they were running credible applications.
