Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Samsung Mobile vulnerability affects older Android-based Samsung devices before the October 2021 Security Maintenance Release 1. A low-privileged local attacker could trigger memory handling weakness in the modem interface driver, potentially leading to code execution. Because CISA lists it as known exploited, organizations should treat unpatched affected devices as urgent mobile fleet risk.
Executive priority
High priority for organizations with older Samsung mobile fleets. KEV status means this is not theoretical. Focus on confirming patch level, removing unsupported devices, and documenting remediation for any regulated or high-risk mobile users.
Technical view
CVE-2021-25487 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in set_skb_priv() in Samsung's modem interface driver. Missing boundary checking can cause dereference of an invalid function pointer, resulting in arbitrary code execution. CVSS 3.1 is 7.3 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Samsung Mobile Devices running Android O 8.1, P 9.0, Q 10.0, or R 11.0 before SMR Oct-2021 Release 1. The bundle does not provide model-level affected lists, so validation requires device inventory and vendor patch-level checks.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV inclusion supports that exploitation has been observed. The provided CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges and no user interaction. The source bundle does not include exploit details, affected model names, or campaign information.
Researcher notes
The public bundle supports a local, low-privilege attack path in a modem interface driver, but does not provide model granularity, exploit chain details, or standalone mitigations beyond Samsung's October 2021 release context. Avoid assuming remote exploitability from the supplied CVSS vector.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Samsung devices to SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 or later where available.
- Replace or isolate legacy devices that cannot receive the required Samsung security update.
- Check Samsung and carrier guidance for model-specific update availability.
- Prioritize managed, shared, or high-privilege user devices for remediation first.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Samsung devices and record Android version and security patch level.
- Confirm devices on Android 8.1 through 11 are at SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 or later.
- Check mobile device management compliance reports for stale patch levels.
- Track CISA KEV status and internal remediation deadlines for this CVE.
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-125: 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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-25487 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N24.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2021&month=10CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-25487CVE 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.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.