Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This CVE describes a Samsung Android 7.x issue where someone physically near a device could use a magnet to activate NFC and bypass the lockscreen. The public record does not provide CVSS scoring, product models, or confirmed exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize if the organization still uses legacy Samsung Android 7.x devices in sensitive workflows. The risk is physical-access based, but lockscreen bypass can affect confidentiality.
Technical view
CVE-2018-21080 maps to Samsung SVE-2017-10897, listed in March 2018. The issue affects Samsung mobile devices running N(7.x) software and involves magnet-triggered NFC activation leading to lockscreen bypass. Public details are sparse.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most plausible for legacy Samsung mobile devices still running Android N(7.x), especially where physical access by untrusted people is realistic.
Exploitation context
The source describes a physically proximate attacker using a magnet. CISA KEV status is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Public evidence is limited to the CVE description and Samsung reference. No CVSS, CWE, model list, exploit status, or detailed fix text is included in the provided sources.
Mitigation direction
- Review Samsung's March 2018 guidance for SVE-2017-10897 applicability.
- Apply relevant Samsung mobile security updates where vendor guidance confirms coverage.
- Identify and retire Samsung devices still running Android 7.x where possible.
- Reduce unattended physical access to affected legacy devices.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Samsung mobile devices and record Android version and patch level.
- Check whether any devices still run N(7.x).
- Compare device patch status against Samsung's March 2018 security update guidance.
- Document whether affected devices handle sensitive data or privileged access.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2018-21080 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsbCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.