Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-25414 is a Samsung Contacts flaw affecting some Samsung mobile devices before the June 2021 security release. A local attacker could abuse poorly sanitized incoming intents to copy or overwrite arbitrary files using Samsung Contacts privileges.
Executive priority
Handle as a patch compliance issue for legacy Samsung Android fleets. Business urgency is moderate because exploitation requires local access, but arbitrary file overwrite under app privilege can still create meaningful integrity and data-risk concerns.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-20 improper input validation in Samsung Contacts. On affected Samsung Mobile Devices running Android P, Q, or R before SMR JUN-2021 Release 1, malformed incoming intent handling could allow local arbitrary file copy or overwrite under Contacts app privilege.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Samsung mobile devices on Android 9, 10, or 11 with Samsung Contacts versions predating Samsung SMR JUN-2021 Release 1. Devices already updated to that release or later are not indicated as affected by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes local attacker capability only. It does not cite remote exploitation, public exploit use, or inclusion in CISA KEV. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed beyond the vendor and research descriptions.
Researcher notes
Key evidence is concise: improper incoming intent sanitization in Samsung Contacts before SMR JUN-2021 Release 1. The bundle does not provide CVSS, exploit maturity, or detailed patch mechanics, so validation should stay source-grounded and vendor-led.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Samsung SMR JUN-2021 Release 1 or later to affected devices.
- Prioritize older Samsung Android 9, 10, and 11 fleets for patch verification.
- Check Samsung guidance for model-specific update availability and Contacts package handling.
- Restrict untrusted local app installation where affected devices cannot be promptly updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Samsung devices running Android 9, 10, or 11.
- Confirm each device security patch level is June 2021 Release 1 or newer.
- Review Samsung Contacts package status on devices that cannot receive full OS updates.
- Verify the CVE is not currently listed as KEV in the supplied source bundle.
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-20: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-25414 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.smsb?year=2021&month=6CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://blog.oversecured.com/Two-weeks-of-securing-Samsung-devices-Part-2/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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 Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.