CVE-2022-22268

Temporary device unlock via permitted DeX mode

Published Jan 7, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper authorization in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Jan-2022 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to unlock Knox Guard. Knox Guard fails to block Samsung DeX mode while the device is locked, so entering DeX temporarily exposes an unlocked session. Physical access to an Android 9 through 12 device and a DeX connection are required; the session permits viewing or changing device data without interrupting service.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
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

Improper authorization in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Jan-2022 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to unlock Knox Guard. Knox Guard fails to block Samsung DeX mode while the device is locked, so entering DeX temporarily exposes an unlocked session. Physical access to an Android 9 through 12 device and a DeX connection are required; the session permits viewing or changing device data without interrupting service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-22268
Published
Jan 7, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-285, T1200
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 7, 2022CVE 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), S(12.0) <SMR Jan-2022 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=P(9.0), Q(10.0), R(11.0), S(12.0) <SMR Jan-2022 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

3.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
6.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.1Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-285Improper Authorization
T1200Hardware Additions

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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