CVE-2025-21005
📋 TL;DR
An improper access control vulnerability in the isemtelephony component on Android devices allows local attackers to access sensitive information. This affects Samsung devices running Android versions prior to Android 15. Attackers must have local access to the device to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Samsung Android devices with isemtelephony component
📦 What is this software?
Android by Samsung
Android is Google's open-source mobile operating system powering over 3 billion devices worldwide, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, automotive systems, wearables, and IoT devices. As the world's dominant mobile OS with approximately 72% global market share, Android serves as the foundation...
Learn more about Android →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local attackers could access sensitive telephony-related information such as call logs, SMS data, or device identifiers without proper authorization.
Likely Case
Malicious apps or users with physical access could extract limited telephony metadata or configuration data from the device.
If Mitigated
With proper Android security controls and app sandboxing, impact would be limited to non-critical telephony data accessible only to privileged local users.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access to device, likely through malicious app installation or physical access. No public exploit details available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android 15 or later Samsung security updates
Vendor Advisory: https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2025&month=07
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > Software update. 2. Install Android 15 update if available. 3. Alternatively, install latest Samsung security update for your device model. 4. Reboot device after update completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local app permissions
androidLimit app permissions and disable unnecessary telephony access for non-essential apps
Disable developer options and USB debugging
androidPrevents local attackers from using ADB or debugging interfaces to exploit the vulnerability
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installation and permissions
- Use application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized apps from running on devices
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version in Settings > About phone > Software information. If version is below Android 15, device may be vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.releaseVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android version is 15 or higher, and check for July 2025 or later Samsung security update in Settings > About phone > Software information.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual access to telephony services by non-system apps
- Permission denial logs for isemtelephony component
SIEM Query:
source="android_logs" AND (component="isemtelephony" AND (action="access_denied" OR action="unauthorized_access"))