CVE-2025-20937 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
Out-of-bounds write in Keymaster trustlet prior to SMR May-2025 Release 1 allows local privileged attackers to write out-of-bounds memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-20937 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the Keymaster trustlet component of Android devices. This issue affects systems prior to the SMR May-2025 Release 1 security patch, making it a significant concern for device manufacturers and security professionals. The Keymaster trustlet serves as a critical security component responsible for cryptographic operations and key management within the Android Trusted Execution Environment, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise the entire cryptographic security infrastructure of affected devices.
The technical nature of this flaw involves an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs within the Keymaster trustlet implementation. This type of vulnerability typically arises when a program writes data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of a buffer or array. In the context of a trustlet environment, such a flaw could allow an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical data structures or even executing arbitrary code. The vulnerability specifically affects the trustlet's handling of cryptographic operations where input validation or boundary checking may be insufficient, creating opportunities for memory corruption that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-20937 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a privilege escalation vector that could allow local attackers with elevated privileges to gain further control over the system. This vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate cryptographic keys, certificates, or other sensitive security data stored within the trustlet environment. The implications are particularly severe given that Keymaster trustlets are designed to handle highly sensitive cryptographic operations, making this vulnerability a potential gateway for broader system compromise. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract or modify cryptographic material, potentially undermining the entire security model of the device's trusted execution environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate deployment of the SMR May-2025 Release 1 security patches, which contain the necessary fixes for the out-of-bounds write condition. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious activities related to cryptographic operations and memory access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which specifically addresses memory corruption issues that occur when programs write to memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1547 Persistent Threats, as it enables local attackers to gain elevated privileges and potentially establish persistent access to compromised systems. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security assessments of their affected products and consider implementing additional runtime protections to detect and prevent exploitation attempts while awaiting full patch deployment.