CVE-2023-21496

Debug-function access via attacker-set debug level

Published May 4, 2023 · Updated Feb 12, 2025

Active debug code in ActivityManagerService on Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows attackers to invoke a debug function. ActivityManagerService accepts an attacker-controlled debug-level setting and enables debug functionality without rejecting an unknown user. Physical access is sufficient under Samsung's CNA assessment; published material identifies confidentiality and integrity effects but does not disclose the debug function's specific downstream actions.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Active debug code in ActivityManagerService on Samsung Mobile Devices before SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows attackers to invoke a debug function. ActivityManagerService accepts an attacker-controlled debug-level setting and enables debug functionality without rejecting an unknown user. Physical access is sufficient under Samsung's CNA assessment; published material identifies confidentiality and integrity effects but does not disclose the debug function's specific downstream actions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21496
Published
May 4, 2023
Updated
Feb 12, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-489
Attack vector
physical
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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Android 11, 12, 13 <SMR May-2023 Release 1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Mobile Devicesversion=Android 11, 12, 13 <SMR May-2023 Release 1

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
6.1Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-489Active Debug Code

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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