CVE-2023-21515Network attack vector

APK installation via improperly validated InstantPlay scripts

Published May 26, 2023 · Updated Jan 15, 2025

Improper access control in Samsung Galaxy Store before 4.5.49.8 allows remote attackers to install APKs through InstantPlay. InstantPlay accepts a vulnerable script and exposes a JavaScript API that initiates Galaxy Store APK installation without proper URL validation. A user must interact with attacker-supplied network content; the documented consequence is installation of an APK from Galaxy Store.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.52%
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 Galaxy Store before 4.5.49.8 allows remote attackers to install APKs through InstantPlay. InstantPlay accepts a vulnerable script and exposes a JavaScript API that initiates Galaxy Store APK installation without proper URL validation. A user must interact with attacker-supplied network content; the documented consequence is installation of an APK from Galaxy Store.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21515
Published
May 26, 2023
Updated
Jan 15, 2025
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Galaxy Store
Classifications
CWE-20, T1658
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 15, 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=unspecified <4.5.49.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. · Samsung Galaxy Storeversion=unspecified <4.5.49.8

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1658Exploitation for Client Execution

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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