CVE-2023-21472

Bootloader code execution via unvalidated USB input

Published Sep 3, 2025 · Updated Sep 3, 2025

Improper input validation in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Apr-2023 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to execute bootloader code. The Exynos Fastboot USB interface improperly handles arbitrary USB input instead of validating it before bootloader processing. Exploitation is limited to selected Android 11, 12, and 13 Exynos devices and requires physical access, high privileges, and user interaction.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
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 input validation in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR Apr-2023 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to execute bootloader code. The Exynos Fastboot USB interface improperly handles arbitrary USB input instead of validating it before bootloader processing. Exploitation is limited to selected Android 11, 12, and 13 Exynos devices and requires physical access, high privileges, and user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21472
Published
Sep 3, 2025
Updated
Sep 3, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-20
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 3, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile DevicesAffected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation

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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