CVE-2021-25489: Samsung Mobile Devices Improper Input Validation Vulnerability
- Is it exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 29 Jun 2023, 631 days after the CVE record was published.
- How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?
- 0.5%
EPSS score, percentile 44.7 of all scored records
- How severe?
- 3.3 Low
CVSS v3.1 base score, given by the CNA
- What should I do?
CISA deadline 20 Jul 2023. Apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
- Which versions are affected?
Affected
- from O(8.1), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0) to before SMR Oct-2021 Release 1
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
What to do
Required action, set by CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable
CISA due date for this action: 20 July 2023.
Advisories and patches
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
Linked from CISA's catalog entry
- https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2021&month=10
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25489
Affected products and versions
As listed in the CVE record.
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | from O(8.1), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0) to before SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 |
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
About this vulnerability
Samsung mobile devices contain an improper input validation vulnerability within the modem interface driver that results in a format string bug leading to kernel panic.
Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA added CVE-2021-25489 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 29 Jun 2023.
- CISA's ransomware flag for this entry is "Unknown": no evidence of ransomware use in the catalog, which is not proof of none.
- The due date CISA sets for the required action is 20 Jul 2023.
- The CVE record was published on 6 Oct 2021, 631 days before it was added to KEV.
- The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.3 (Low), given by its CNA.
- FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.5% (percentile 44.7), as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact partial.
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Description
Assuming radio permission is gained, missing input validation in modem interface driver prior to SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 results in format string bug leading to kernel panic.
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Weakness
- CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
CWE and CAPEC are maintained by MITRE; the entries are those named in the CVE record and the KEV entry.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2021 | CVE record published |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Added to CISA KEV |
| 20 Jul 2023 | CISA due date for the required action |
| 21 Oct 2025 | CVE record last updated |
References
More exploited Samsung vulnerabilities
- CVE-2024-7399: Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server Path Traversal Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-21042: Samsung Mobile Devices Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-21043: Samsung Mobile Devices Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-4632: Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server Path Traversal Vulnerability
- CVE-2022-22265: Samsung Mobile Devices Use-After-Free Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-25371: Samsung Mobile Devices Unspecified Vulnerability