CVE-2025-21076
📋 TL;DR
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Samsung Account allows attackers with physical device access to bypass permission checks and access sensitive account data. This affects Samsung device users who haven't updated to version 15.5.00.18 or later. User interaction is required, meaning the attacker needs to trick the user into performing some action.
💻 Affected Systems
- Samsung Account
📦 What is this software?
Account by Samsung
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could access all Samsung Account data including authentication tokens, personal information, payment methods, and connected services, potentially leading to account takeover and identity theft.
Likely Case
Local attackers with brief physical access could extract limited account information or authentication tokens, potentially enabling further attacks on connected Samsung services.
If Mitigated
With proper device security controls and user awareness, the risk is limited to trusted individuals with physical access who can already cause significant damage through other means.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and user interaction. No public exploit details available from Samsung's advisory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 15.5.00.18 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2025&month=11
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open Galaxy Store or Google Play Store on Samsung device. 2. Search for 'Samsung Account'. 3. Update to version 15.5.00.18 or later. 4. Alternatively, enable automatic updates in store settings.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Samsung Account
androidTemporarily disable Samsung Account functionality to prevent exploitation
Enable Device Lock
androidEnsure strong device lock (PIN, pattern, biometric) is enabled to prevent unauthorized physical access
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict physical security controls for devices
- Educate users about not allowing untrusted individuals to handle their devices
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Samsung Account version in device settings > Apps > Samsung Account > App infoCheck Version:
No command line option. Check via device settings or Galaxy Store.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify Samsung Account version is 15.5.00.18 or higher📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Samsung Account access patterns
- Multiple failed permission requests
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected Samsung Account API calls from local device
SIEM Query:
Not applicable for typical mobile device environments