Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Samsung Mobile issue can expose kernel memory addresses in log files. A local attacker with high privileges could use that information to weaken Android ASLR protections. The direct impact is information disclosure, but CISA KEV status raises urgency because exploitation has been reported.
Executive priority
Treat this as a priority mobile patching issue, not a standalone remote compromise. KEV status makes delayed remediation hard to justify, especially for managed Samsung fleets used by executives, administrators, or staff handling sensitive data.
Technical view
CVE-2023-21492 is a CWE-532 information exposure flaw in selected Samsung Android 11, 12, and 13 devices before SMR May-2023 Release 1. Kernel pointers are printed to logs, allowing a privileged local attacker to bypass ASLR. CVSS is 4.4 with local access and high privileges required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to selected Samsung Mobile Devices on Android 11, 12, or 13 that have not received SMR May-2023 Release 1 or later. Risk is mainly enterprise-managed or personally owned Samsung devices with outdated security patch levels.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV inclusion supports known exploitation. The source bundle does not provide exploit details, scale, affected model list, or whether exploitation is targeted or widespread. The vulnerability requires local access and high privileges, so it is most concerning as part of a chained attack.
Researcher notes
The evidence identifies kernel pointer leakage to logs and ASLR bypass by a privileged local attacker. Public sources in the bundle do not name exact models, log locations, exploit chains, or detection indicators. Avoid assuming broader Android impact beyond selected Samsung devices.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Samsung Android 11, 12, and 13 devices in managed fleets.
- Apply Samsung SMR May-2023 Release 1 or later where applicable.
- Prioritize devices that remain before the May 2023 security release.
- Follow Samsung guidance for device-specific update availability.
- For unsupported devices, plan replacement or restrict high-privilege local access.
Validation and detection
- Verify each Samsung device security patch level against May 2023 Release 1 or later.
- Check MDM inventory for Samsung Android 11, 12, and 13 devices.
- Confirm whether CVE-2023-21492 appears in Samsung’s May 2023 bulletin.
- Track CISA KEV status and internal remediation deadlines.
- Document exceptions for devices unable to receive the Samsung update.
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-532: 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-2023-21492 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
- 4.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.
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:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N0.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2023&month=05CVE reference
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-21492CVE 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.
Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.