CVE-2025-32407 in Internet for Galaxy Watch
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2025
Samsung Internet for Galaxy Watch version 5.0.9, available up until Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, does not properly validate TLS certificates, allowing for an attacker to impersonate any and all websites visited by the user. This is a critical misconfiguration in the way the browser validates the identity of the server. It negates the use of HTTPS as a secure channel, allowing for Man-in-the-Middle attacks, stealing sensitive information or modifying incoming and outgoing traffic. NOTE: This vulnerability is in an end-of-life product that is no longer maintained by the vendor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-32407 represents a critical failure in the TLS certificate validation mechanism of Samsung Internet for Galaxy Watch version 5.0.9, which was distributed across Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 devices and earlier models. This flaw constitutes a fundamental breakdown in the security infrastructure that protects users from malicious actors attempting to intercept or manipulate their web traffic. The vulnerability exists within the browser component of the smartwatch operating system, specifically targeting the cryptographic validation processes that are essential for establishing secure connections between users and web servers. This misconfiguration directly violates the core principles of secure communications and undermines the entire HTTPS security model that billions of users rely upon daily. The issue falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, making it a well-documented and severe class of vulnerability that has been extensively studied within the cybersecurity community.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient implementation of certificate validation routines that should normally verify the authenticity of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. When a user navigates to any website through the affected Samsung Internet browser, the application fails to properly authenticate the server's identity, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the device. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without detection, as the browser accepts invalid or self-signed certificates as valid. The impact extends beyond simple data interception, as the compromised security model allows for active traffic manipulation, including the injection of malicious content, modification of web pages, and complete control over the user's browsing session. This represents a complete failure of the transport layer security that should protect all data transmitted between the user and web servers, effectively rendering the secure channel provided by HTTPS useless.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, particularly given that it affects smartwatch devices that often contain sensitive personal and financial information. Users of Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and earlier models are exposed to potential data breaches, credential theft, and financial fraud when connecting to any website, as the device cannot distinguish between legitimate and malicious servers. The vulnerability particularly affects users who conduct sensitive transactions, access personal accounts, or use the devices in public networks where such attacks are more likely to occur. The end-of-life status of the affected product compounds the risk, as users cannot receive security updates or patches to address the flaw, leaving them permanently exposed to potential exploitation. This vulnerability directly maps to tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1041 for data encryption for impact, demonstrating how the flaw can be leveraged for comprehensive attack chains.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability is fundamentally limited due to the end-of-life status of the affected product, leaving users with few options for protection. The primary recommendation involves avoiding the use of the affected browser for sensitive activities, particularly when connecting to financial institutions, personal accounts, or any service requiring secure authentication. Users should consider disabling the affected browser entirely and relying on alternative methods for accessing web content, such as using smartphones or desktop computers for sensitive transactions. Network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though the lack of vendor support means that active protection measures are severely limited. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the risks associated with using end-of-life products that no longer receive security updates, highlighting the critical need for proper product lifecycle management in IoT and mobile device ecosystems.