CVE-2025-21049 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2025
Improper access control in SecSettings prior to SMR Oct-2025 Release 1 allows local attackers to access sensitive information. User interaction is required for triggering this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-21049 represents a critical access control flaw within the SecSettings component of a mobile operating system prior to the SMR October 2025 release. This weakness stems from inadequate authorization checks that permit local attackers to bypass expected security boundaries and access sensitive system information. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, meaning that an attacker must first gain some form of user-level access or convince a user to perform a specific action before the flaw can be triggered. The SecSettings module typically manages various security-related configurations and permissions within the operating system, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or extract confidential data. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can potentially allow unauthorized access to system-level information that should remain protected from local users.
The technical implementation of this access control failure likely involves insufficient validation of user permissions or improper enforcement of security boundaries within the SecSettings framework. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive data that may include system configuration parameters, user credentials, security policies, or other confidential information typically restricted to system-level processes or authorized administrators. The requirement for user interaction suggests that the exploit may involve social engineering tactics or phishing attacks where users are induced to perform actions that trigger the vulnerability, such as clicking malicious links or installing compromised applications. This interaction requirement can make the vulnerability more difficult to exploit automatically but does not eliminate its potential for causing significant security breaches. The flaw could enable attackers to gather intelligence about the device's security posture, potentially facilitating more sophisticated attacks or privilege escalation attempts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both individual users and enterprise environments where mobile devices are extensively used. The ability to access sensitive information through local means can lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and potential compromise of corporate networks. Organizations that rely on mobile device management solutions may find their security postures weakened if employees' devices contain vulnerable software versions. The impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure to potentially enable further exploitation paths, as attackers who gain access to system configurations can use this information to plan more targeted attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where mobile devices handle sensitive corporate data or personal information, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing security controls and compliance requirements. The fact that this issue exists in pre-SMR October 2025 releases indicates that it represents a known weakness that was not adequately addressed in previous security updates.
Security mitigations for CVE-2025-21049 should prioritize immediate deployment of the SMR October 2025 release which contains the necessary patches to address the access control flaw. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify devices running vulnerable software versions and implement mandatory update policies to ensure all endpoints are protected. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious user activities that may indicate exploitation attempts, implementing network-level controls to detect unusual data access patterns, and maintaining detailed audit logs of security-related configuration changes. Security teams should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically enforce security policies and ensure timely patch deployment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation attempts and maintain communication channels with vendors for ongoing security updates and threat intelligence sharing. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to prevent potential system instability or compatibility issues.