Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-25370 is a Samsung Mobile kernel-level driver flaw. On affected older Samsung Android devices, mishandling a file descriptor in the DPU driver can corrupt memory and crash the kernel. CISA lists it in KEV, so treat legacy unpatched devices as business-relevant exposure.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for corporate or privileged Samsung devices that remain below the March 2021 Samsung security release. KEV status raises urgency, but physical access and high privilege requirements keep this below critical enterprise-wide emergency level.
Technical view
The CVE describes incorrect file descriptor handling in Samsung's DPU driver before SMR Mar-2021 Release 1. The result is memory corruption leading to kernel panic. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1 with physical access, high complexity, high privileges, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in fleets with Samsung Mobile Devices running selected Android O, P, Q, or R builds that did not receive SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 or later. Unsupported BYOD and stored legacy devices are higher concern than current fully patched devices.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV inclusion indicates known exploitation. The provided sources do not describe exploit method, scale, targets, or whether exploitation remains active today. The CVSS vector suggests exploitation requires physical access and high privileges, limiting broad remote risk.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies a DPU driver file descriptor handling flaw mapped to CWE-703. Public details in the bundle are limited: no root cause diff, affected model list, exploit chain, or detection indicators are provided. Avoid assuming broader Android or non-Samsung exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Samsung SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 or later where available.
- Check Samsung Mobile security guidance for model-specific update availability.
- Block or retire affected devices that cannot receive required updates.
- Use MDM compliance policies to require supported Android patch levels.
- Limit sensitive access from unmanaged or unsupported Samsung devices.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Samsung device models, Android versions, and security patch levels.
- Confirm devices are at SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 or later.
- Review MDM reports for noncompliant or unsupported Samsung devices.
- Check whether any affected devices access sensitive business apps.
- Track Samsung advisory updates for model-specific remediation details.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-703: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-25370 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsbCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-25370CVE reference · government-resource
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.
Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.