CVE-2025-20982 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
Out-of-bounds write in setting auth secret in KnoxVault trustlet prior to SMR Jul-2025 Release 1 allows local privileged attackers to write out-of-bounds memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2025
This vulnerability exists within the KnoxVault trustlet component of Samsung's mobile security architecture, specifically affecting devices prior to the SMR July 2025 security release. The issue manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition when the system attempts to set authentication secrets within the trustlet environment. The flaw occurs in the memory management routines responsible for handling cryptographic key storage and authentication data processing. Attackers with local privileged access can exploit this weakness to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and compromising the integrity of the secure element.
The technical root cause stems from insufficient bounds checking in the trustlet's memory allocation and data handling mechanisms. When authentication secrets are being configured, the system fails to validate the length or boundaries of input data before performing memory writes. This allows an attacker to manipulate the memory layout and overwrite critical data structures or code segments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the trustlet environment, which is designed to provide secure cryptographic operations and should be isolated from regular system processes. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and memory safety that security-critical components must maintain.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local privileged attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution within the trustlet context, potentially leading to complete compromise of the device's secure storage capabilities. The attack vector requires local access with elevated privileges, which means the attacker must already have some level of system access or be able to escalate privileges through other means. However, once exploited, the attacker could potentially extract or modify cryptographic keys, bypass authentication mechanisms, or manipulate secure data storage. The impact extends beyond immediate device compromise to potential data exfiltration and credential theft from applications that rely on KnoxVault for secure storage.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected devices running Samsung firmware prior to the SMR July 2025 release. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure timely security updates are applied across all endpoints. System administrators should monitor for any unusual memory access patterns or security events that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which specifically addresses memory safety issues in software components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution within secure environments, potentially enabling lateral movement and data persistence. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for trustlet-related memory operations and establishing incident response procedures specifically for secure element compromises.