CVE-2025-21015
📋 TL;DR
A path traversal vulnerability in Samsung's Document scanner allows local attackers to delete arbitrary files with the application's elevated privileges. This affects Samsung mobile devices running vulnerable versions of the Document scanner application prior to the August 2025 security update. Attackers must have local access to the device to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Samsung Document scanner application
📦 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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →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
An attacker could delete critical system files, causing device instability, data loss, or rendering the device inoperable by leveraging the Document scanner's elevated permissions.
Likely Case
Local attackers could delete user data, application files, or configuration files, potentially causing application crashes or data loss for the affected user.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and the patch applied, the vulnerability is eliminated, preventing unauthorized file deletion through the Document scanner.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to the device and knowledge of the vulnerability. No public exploit code is currently available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: SMR Aug-2025 Release 1
Vendor Advisory: https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2025&month=08
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Go to Settings on your Samsung device. 2. Navigate to Software update. 3. Tap Download and install. 4. Apply the August 2025 security update (SMR Aug-2025 Release 1). 5. Ensure the Document scanner application is updated through the Galaxy Store if applicable.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Document scanner
AndroidTemporarily disable the Document scanner application to prevent exploitation until the patch can be applied.
Go to Settings > Apps > Document scanner > Disable
Restrict local access
allImplement device security measures to prevent unauthorized local access, such as strong lock screen authentication and device encryption.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Document scanner application entirely through device settings
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the device locally
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if your device has received the August 2025 security update by going to Settings > About phone > Software information > Android security patch level. If it shows earlier than August 2025, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm the Android security patch level shows 'August 5, 2025' or later in Settings > About phone > Software information.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file deletion events originating from the Document scanner process
- Access violations in system logs related to file operations
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
process_name:"Document scanner" AND event_type:"file_delete" AND file_path NOT CONTAINS "/expected/path/"