Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-21442 is a privacy issue in Samsung Mobile's Runestone app. On affected Android 11 and Android 12 devices, a local attacker could obtain device location information before the fixed Runestone versions. The sources do not indicate remote compromise, data modification, or service disruption.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate mobile privacy risk. Prioritize remediation for managed Samsung Android 11 and 12 fleets, especially where location privacy matters, but it is not supported by sources as an actively exploited or remote compromise issue.
Technical view
The flaw is improper access control, mapped to CWE-284. Samsung lists Runestone before 2.9.09.003 on Android R(11) and before 3.2.01.007 on Android S(12) as affected. CVSS 3.1 is 4.0 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and low confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant for Samsung Android 11 or 12 devices with vulnerable Runestone versions installed. The source bundle does not provide CPEs, model lists, or enterprise deployment indicators.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local attack conditions, not network-based exploitation. Impact is limited to confidentiality of device location information.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited but consistent: Samsung and CVE sources identify Runestone version thresholds and location disclosure. No exploit details, CPEs, affected model list, or workaround are included in the supplied bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update Runestone to Samsung's fixed version for the device's Android release.
- Apply the relevant Samsung Mobile security update from February 2023 or later.
- Use MDM inventory to identify Samsung Android 11 and 12 devices.
- Check Samsung guidance for devices that cannot receive the fixed Runestone version.
Validation and detection
- Confirm affected devices are Samsung Android R(11) or S(12).
- Verify Runestone version is at or above the fixed version for that Android release.
- Check mobile security patch and app update records for February 2023 coverage.
- Document any devices lacking update eligibility or vendor support.
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-284: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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-2023-21442 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
- 4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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.
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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N2.51.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2023&month=02CVE reference
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 Access Control
Improper Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.