CVE-2025-20928 in Notes
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2025
Out-of-bounds read in parsing wbmp image in Samsung Notes prior to vaersion 4.4.26.71 allows local attackers to access out-of-bounds memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2025-20928 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw discovered in Samsung Notes application prior to version 4.4.26.71. This vulnerability specifically affects the parsing mechanism for wireless bitmap wbmp images within the application's image handling subsystem. The flaw occurs when the application processes wbmp image files without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to manipulate image data in a manner that triggers memory access beyond allocated buffers. Such out-of-bounds memory access represents a fundamental security weakness that can lead to various exploitation vectors and potentially compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the wbmp image parser component. When Samsung Notes encounters a malformed wbmp image file, the parsing routine fails to properly validate the image dimensions or data structure boundaries before accessing memory locations. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing improper validation of array indices or buffer access operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition where the application attempts to read memory locations that extend beyond the intended data boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for local attackers who can leverage the flaw to gain unauthorized access to memory contents that should remain protected. The out-of-bounds memory access could potentially expose application memory layout information, user data, or even system credentials stored in adjacent memory locations. Attackers might exploit this weakness to perform information disclosure attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation or further exploitation of the system. The local nature of this vulnerability means that an attacker must already have access to the device, but the impact remains severe as it could provide a foothold for more extensive attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers could craft malicious wbmp files to exploit this weakness.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2025-20928 requires immediate deployment of Samsung Notes version 4.4.26.71 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for wbmp image parsing. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted image files and consider deploying additional security controls such as memory protection mechanisms and runtime application self-protection. System administrators should monitor for any suspicious activity related to image processing within Samsung Notes and ensure that all devices running the application are updated to the patched version. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and buffer management in mobile applications, particularly those handling multimedia content where attackers can manipulate file structures to trigger memory access violations. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory safety practices should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.