CVE-2021-25489

Exp

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.

Published: 2021-10-06 Last update: 2025-10-30 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2021-25489 is rated Active Exploitation (70/100): CVSS Low severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.35%). CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2023-06-29) affecting Samsung / Mobile Devices. a weakness (CWE-134) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2021-25489

Name: Samsung Mobile Devices Improper Input Validation Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2023-06-29

Action due: 2023-07-20

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-25489

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-05-28 0.36% 0.35% -0.02%
2 2025-11-21 10.81% 0.36% -10.45%
3 2025-11-18 — 10.81% —

Full EPSS history (16 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2021-25489

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
3.3 3.1 LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:L)
Might cause slowdowns, glitches, or partial disruption—not a full brick.
 1.8 1.4 [email protected]
5.5 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 1.8 3.6 [email protected]
4.9 2.0 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C Click to expand
Access vector (AV:L)
Requires local access to the target system.
Access complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:N)
No confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:N)
No integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C)
Complete availability impact.
 3.9 6.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2021-25489

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2021-25489

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
samsung android 8.1 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-apr-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-aug-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-feb-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-jan-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-jul-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-jun-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-mar-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-may-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 9.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:9.0:smr-sep-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-apr-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-aug-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-feb-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-jan-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-jul-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-jun-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-mar-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-may-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 10.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:10.0:smr-sep-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-apr-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-aug-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-feb-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jan-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jul-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jun-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-mar-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-may-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
samsung android 11.0 cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-sep-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2021-25489

cvelogic Threat Intelligence