CVE-2021-25389

Physical app-lock bypass via improper task check

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Authentication bypass in S Secure on Samsung Mobile Devices P(9.0) allows physically proximate attackers to use a locked app. The app-lock component checks the running task incorrectly, allowing protected application functionality to remain accessible; Samsung has not disclosed the specific code path. Physical access and user interaction are required, and the documented consequence is unauthorized use of the protected app rather than device-wide control.

CVSS severity2.3
Low
EPSS probability0.11%
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 S Secure on Samsung Mobile Devices P(9.0) allows physically proximate attackers to use a locked app. The app-lock component checks the running task incorrectly, allowing protected application functionality to remain accessible; Samsung has not disclosed the specific code path. Physical access and user interaction are required, and the documented consequence is unauthorized use of the protected app rather than device-wide control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25389
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-287
Attack vector
physical
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

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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=P(9.0) <SMR MAY-2021 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=P(9.0) <SMR MAY-2021 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
2.3Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N

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)
Vectorphysical
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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