CVE-2021-25516

Location tracking via unchecked RRC security variable

Published Dec 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper exceptional-condition handling in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Dec-2021 Release 1 allows attackers to track locations. The Exynos baseband handles RRC MeasurementReport messages without properly checking an RRC security variable. The issue is limited to selected Exynos chipsets running Android 9, 10, or 11 and exposes location information through an adjacent cellular-radio path.

CVSS severity6.4
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

Improper exceptional-condition handling in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Dec-2021 Release 1 allows attackers to track locations. The Exynos baseband handles RRC MeasurementReport messages without properly checking an RRC security variable. The issue is limited to selected Exynos chipsets running Android 9, 10, or 11 and exposes location information through an adjacent cellular-radio path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25516
Published
Dec 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-755, CWE-703, T1430
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 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), Q(10.0), R(11.0) devices with selected Exynos chipsets <SMR Dec-2021 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0) devices with selected Exynos chipsets <SMR Dec-2021 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

6.4Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L
7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/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.

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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
CWE-703Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1430Location Tracking

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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