CVE-2018-21038Network attack vector

Unauthenticated container access via faulty startup logic

Published Apr 8, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Authentication bypass in Samsung Secure Folder on mobile devices running Android 7.x allows remote attackers to bypass startup authentication. The app's startup logic fails to enforce authentication before granting access, but Samsung has not disclosed the affected function or trigger. No account or user interaction is required; public records do not specify which protected data or functions become accessible.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Samsung Secure Folder on mobile devices running Android 7.x allows remote attackers to bypass startup authentication. The app's startup logic fails to enforce authentication before granting access, but Samsung has not disclosed the affected function or trigger. No account or user interaction is required; public records do not specify which protected data or functions become accessible.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-21038
Published
Apr 8, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 8, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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