CVE-2025-21000 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
Improper privilege management in Bluetooth prior to SMR Jul-2025 Release 1 allows local attackers to enable Bluetooth.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical flaw in Bluetooth implementation where improper privilege management creates unauthorized access pathways for local attackers. The issue specifically affects Bluetooth systems prior to the SMR July 2025 Release 1, indicating a regression or oversight in privilege enforcement mechanisms that should have been addressed in the security updates. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during Bluetooth enablement processes, allowing malicious local users to bypass normal access controls and activate Bluetooth functionality without proper authorization. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates potential attack vectors for lateral movement within compromised systems.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the Bluetooth subsystem's privilege checking mechanisms, where the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient permissions to enable Bluetooth services. This misconfiguration enables local attackers to exploit the Bluetooth interface through unauthorized access, potentially leading to information disclosure, device compromise, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which addresses improper privilege management, specifically focusing on inadequate access control enforcement during system service activation. From an operational perspective, this flaw represents a significant security risk as it allows attackers with local system access to gain additional capabilities through Bluetooth interface manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized Bluetooth activation, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks including man-in-the-middle scenarios, device spoofing, and unauthorized data transfer operations. Local attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent Bluetooth connections, potentially using the interface for reconnaissance activities or as a covert channel for data exfiltration. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where Bluetooth functionality might be used to access other system components or services that are normally restricted. Organizations implementing Bluetooth-based systems should consider this weakness in their risk assessments as it directly impacts the security boundaries of their wireless infrastructure and may provide attackers with additional attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to the SMR July 2025 Release 1 or equivalent security updates that address the privilege management flaw. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of Bluetooth enablement events and establish strict access controls for Bluetooth-related system calls. The implementation of mandatory access controls and enhanced privilege checking mechanisms should be prioritized, ensuring that Bluetooth activation requires explicit authorization from privileged users. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of Bluetooth service configurations and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of unauthorized Bluetooth activation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper privilege management enforcement in wireless communication systems. The issue also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of system services, particularly those that provide access to potentially sensitive wireless interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and persistence tactics, as attackers can use unauthorized Bluetooth activation to establish ongoing access to target systems.