CVE-2023-21438

Protected app-preview disclosure via improper HomeScreen validation

Published Feb 9, 2023 · Updated Mar 24, 2025

Improper access control in Samsung Mobile Devices on Android 11 and 12 allows physically proximate attackers to view protected app previews. HomeScreen's Recents app-preview path applies incomplete validation and displays a Secure Folder app's preview without enforcing the folder's protection. Physical possession and user interaction are required, and the consequence is limited to disclosure of the preview rather than access to the app itself.

CVSS severity2.1
Low
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Samsung Mobile Devices on Android 11 and 12 allows physically proximate attackers to view protected app previews. HomeScreen's Recents app-preview path applies incomplete validation and displays a Secure Folder app's preview without enforcing the folder's protection. Physical possession and user interaction are required, and the consequence is limited to disclosure of the preview rather than access to the app itself.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21438
Published
Feb 9, 2023
Updated
Mar 24, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-284, T1533
Attack vector
physical
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=R(11), S(12) <SMR Feb-2023 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=R(11), S(12) <SMR Feb-2023 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

2.1Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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-284Improper Access Control
T1533Data from Local System

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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