CVE-2021-25489Known exploitation

Kernel panic via unvalidated format string

Published Oct 6, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

A format-string flaw in Samsung Mobile Devices’ modem interface driver before SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 allows local users to panic the kernel. The driver processes insufficiently validated input as a format string, allowing crafted data to trigger the panic. Radio permission is required; successful exploitation crashes the device kernel without reported data access or modification.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A format-string flaw in Samsung Mobile Devices’ modem interface driver before SMR Oct-2021 Release 1 allows local users to panic the kernel. The driver processes insufficiently validated input as a format string, allowing crafted data to trigger the panic. Radio permission is required; successful exploitation crashes the device kernel without reported data access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25489
Published
Oct 6, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-134, CWE-20, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 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=O(8.1), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0) <SMR Oct-2021 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=O(8.1), P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0) <SMR Oct-2021 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.9NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
3.3Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-134Use of Externally-Controlled Format String
CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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