CVE-2025-20956 in Galaxy Watch
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
Improper export of android application components in Settings in Galaxy Watch prior to SMR May-2025 Release 1 allows physical attackers to access developer settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2026
This vulnerability resides in the Android application component export mechanism within the Settings application of Samsung Galaxy Watch devices prior to the SMR May-2025 security release. The flaw represents a critical misconfiguration where sensitive developer settings components are improperly exported, making them accessible to unauthorized physical attackers who have physical access to the device. The vulnerability stems from inadequate permission controls and component exposure within the Android framework, specifically affecting the watchOS implementation that governs system-level settings interfaces. This misconfiguration allows attackers to directly invoke and interact with developer-oriented system components through the Android Intents mechanism, bypassing normal authentication and authorization checks that should normally protect these sensitive interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through physical access to the device, where an attacker can leverage the improperly exported components to gain access to developer settings that should remain restricted to authorized personnel or system processes. The flaw manifests as an insecure component export where the Settings application fails to properly validate incoming intents before executing sensitive operations within the developer configuration interfaces. This represents a classic example of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where insufficient privileges are enforced for accessing system components. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation through direct component invocation, potentially enabling attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or manipulate device behavior in ways that compromise the overall security posture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate core system settings that could affect device functionality, security policies, and user privacy. Physical attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access debugging interfaces, modify system parameters, or potentially gain deeper access to the device's underlying operating system. The implications are particularly severe for wearable devices like Galaxy Watch, where the attack surface is already limited but the potential for data compromise remains high. This vulnerability could enable attackers to disable security features, modify device behavior, or establish persistent access points through the developer interfaces that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The risk is amplified by the fact that these devices often contain personal health data, location information, and other sensitive user data that could be accessed through manipulation of system settings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the SMR May-2025 security update from Samsung, which addresses the improper component export by implementing proper access controls and component validation. Organizations should also implement additional physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access to wearable devices, including device encryption, secure storage practices, and regular security assessments. System administrators should monitor for any suspicious activity related to system settings modifications and ensure that device management policies include proper access control enforcement. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local system permissions and T1547 which covers registry run keys and startup folder modifications, though the specific exploitation pathway here involves component-level access rather than traditional startup persistence methods. Device manufacturers should implement comprehensive component export validation during security reviews and ensure that all developer-facing interfaces are properly secured through appropriate permission models and access controls.