CVE-2021-25371Known exploitation

Arbitrary DSP code execution via improper commands

Published Mar 26, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Hidden functionality in the DSP driver of Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 allows attackers to load arbitrary ELF libraries. Improper DSP-driver commands accept and load attacker-supplied ELF libraries into the signal processor; Samsung deleted those commands. Physical access and high privileges are required, while successful loading grants attacker-controlled code execution within the DSP.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hidden functionality in the DSP driver of Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 allows attackers to load arbitrary ELF libraries. Improper DSP-driver commands accept and load attacker-supplied ELF libraries into the signal processor; Samsung deleted those commands. Physical access and high privileges are required, while successful loading grants attacker-controlled code execution within the DSP.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25371
Published
Mar 26, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-912, CAPEC-190, CAPEC-133
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Q(10.0), R(11.0) devices with exynos980, exynos2100, exynos9830 <SMR Mar-2021 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=Q(10.0), R(11.0) devices with exynos980, exynos2100, exynos9830 <SMR Mar-2021 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

6.1Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-912Hidden Functionality
CAPEC-190Reverse Engineer an Executable to Expose Assumed Hidden Functionality
CAPEC-133Try All Common Switches

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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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