CVE-2023-21421

SIM PIN disclosure via missing signature check

Published Feb 9, 2023 · Updated Mar 24, 2025

Improper privilege handling in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Jan-2023 Release 1 allows local users to read the device SIM PIN. KnoxCustomManagerService accepts an unauthorized caller because it omits the required signature check before exposing the PIN. The attacker must reach the service locally on an affected Android 10 through 13 device; the disclosed consequence is limited to SIM PIN exposure.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege handling in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Jan-2023 Release 1 allows local users to read the device SIM PIN. KnoxCustomManagerService accepts an unauthorized caller because it omits the required signature check before exposing the PIN. The attacker must reach the service locally on an affected Android 10 through 13 device; the disclosed consequence is limited to SIM PIN exposure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21421
Published
Feb 9, 2023
Updated
Mar 24, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-280, CWE-269
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 24, 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=Q(10), R(11), S(12), T(13) <SMR Jan-2023 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=Q(10), R(11), S(12), T(13) <SMR Jan-2023 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.9Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-280Improper Handling of Insufficient Permissions or Privileges
CWE-269Improper Privilege Management

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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