CVE-2025-21041
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers to access sensitive information stored in Samsung's Secure Folder on Android devices. It affects Samsung devices running Android versions prior to Android 16 with Secure Folder enabled. The vulnerability stems from insecure storage practices within the Secure Folder implementation.
💻 Affected Systems
- Samsung Secure Folder
📦 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
Attackers with physical access or malware on the device could extract passwords, financial data, personal documents, and other sensitive information stored in Secure Folder.
Likely Case
Malicious apps or users with temporary physical access could access protected files and data that should be isolated in Secure Folder.
If Mitigated
With proper device security controls and user awareness, the risk is limited to sophisticated attacks requiring device access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access to device or malware execution. No public exploit code available as per Samsung advisory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android 16 or later Samsung security updates
Vendor Advisory: https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2025&month=09
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > Software update. 2. Install latest Android/Samsung security update. 3. Ensure device is running Android 16 or later. 4. Update Secure Folder app from Galaxy Store if available.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Secure Folder
allTemporarily disable Secure Folder feature to prevent exploitation
Open Secure Folder app > Menu > Settings > Uninstall Secure Folder
Remove sensitive data from Secure Folder
allMove critical files and data out of Secure Folder until patched
Backup Secure Folder contents to secure cloud storage or external encrypted storage
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict physical security controls for vulnerable devices
- Deploy mobile device management (MDM) with containerization to isolate corporate data
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version in Settings > About phone > Software information. If Android version is below 16 and Secure Folder is enabled, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.releaseVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android version is 16 or later and check for latest Samsung security updates in Settings > Software update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to Secure Folder storage paths
- Suspicious file access patterns in Android system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual data exfiltration from device
- Connections to suspicious IPs after Secure Folder access
SIEM Query:
source="android_logs" AND (event="file_access" AND path="*securefolder*" OR event="app_activity" AND app="Secure Folder")