CVE-2021-22494

Fingerprint authentication failure via uncompensated image inversion

Published Jan 5, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Image-processing defect in Samsung Note20 Android 10 allows local users to disrupt fingerprint authentication through screen-protected enrollment. The fingerprint scanner omits required image compensation when a screen protector is present, allowing the enrolled image to invert and producing a high false recognition rate. The condition requires a screen protector and fingerprint enrollment; the resulting recognition failures can prevent biometric authentication without a reported effect on other device functions.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Image-processing defect in Samsung Note20 Android 10 allows local users to disrupt fingerprint authentication through screen-protected enrollment. The fingerprint scanner omits required image compensation when a screen protector is present, allowing the enrolled image to invert and producing a high false recognition rate. The condition requires a screen protector and fingerprint enrollment; the resulting recognition failures can prevent biometric authentication without a reported effect on other device functions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22494
Published
Jan 5, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 5, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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