CVE-2023-21491

System-privileged file writes via insufficient validation

Published May 4, 2023 · Updated Feb 12, 2025

Improper access control in Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows local users to write arbitrary files. ThemeManager accepts an insufficiently validated file-write request and performs the write with system privilege; Samsung has not disclosed the request path or missing validation condition. Local access is required, and the impact is bounded to placing or replacing files with system-level write authority.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 before SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows local users to write arbitrary files. ThemeManager accepts an insufficiently validated file-write request and performs the write with system privilege; Samsung has not disclosed the request path or missing validation condition. Local access is required, and the impact is bounded to placing or replacing files with system-level write authority.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21491
Published
May 4, 2023
Updated
Feb 12, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-284, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 12, 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=Android 12, 13 <SMR May-2023 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=Android 12, 13 <SMR May-2023 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

8.5Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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