CVE-2023-21494Network attack vector

Remote invalid memory access via unchecked authentication input

Published May 4, 2023 · Updated Feb 12, 2025

Buffer overflow in the Shannon baseband authentication API on selected Exynos devices allows remote attackers to cause invalid memory access. The authentication API in mm_Authentication.c fails to apply adequate input validation before processing attacker-controlled data in a fixed-size buffer. Exposure is limited to selected devices using Exynos CP chipsets; the public advisory establishes invalid memory access but not code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in the Shannon baseband authentication API on selected Exynos devices allows remote attackers to cause invalid memory access. The authentication API in mm_Authentication.c fails to apply adequate input validation before processing attacker-controlled data in a fixed-size buffer. Exposure is limited to selected devices using Exynos CP chipsets; the public advisory establishes invalid memory access but not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21494
Published
May 4, 2023
Updated
Feb 12, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-20, CWE-120
Attack vector
network
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=Select devices using Exynos CP chipsets <SMR May-2023 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=Select devices using Exynos CP chipsets <SMR May-2023 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.6Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

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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