CVE-2021-25388Public exploit

Arbitrary app installation via unrestricted exported service

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper caller validation in Knox Core on Samsung Mobile Devices with Android 11 allows local users to install arbitrary apps. The exported DualDARInitService accepts an attacker-controlled package URI, copies the referenced APK, and starts installation without restricting the calling app. Reachability requires an app already running on the device, and exploitation installs an attacker-chosen package through Knox Core.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper caller validation in Knox Core on Samsung Mobile Devices with Android 11 allows local users to install arbitrary apps. The exported DualDARInitService accepts an attacker-controlled package URI, copies the referenced APK, and starts installation without restricting the calling app. Reachability requires an app already running on the device, and exploitation installs an attacker-chosen package through Knox Core.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25388
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-354, CWE-926, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 11, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=R(11.0) <SMR MAY-2021 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=R(11.0) <SMR MAY-2021 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

3.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.1Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-354Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value
CWE-926Improper Export of Android Application Components
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo