CVE-2023-42559

Device lock bypass via system-time exception mishandling

Published Dec 5, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper exception handling in Knox Guard before SMR Dec-2023 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to bypass device locks. Knox Guard mishandles an exceptional condition triggered when the device system time changes, causing the lock-enforcement path to fail open. Physical access and user interaction are required to change the clock; the bypass restores access blocked by Knox Guard without a reported service interruption.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper exception handling in Knox Guard before SMR Dec-2023 Release 1 allows physically proximate attackers to bypass device locks. Knox Guard mishandles an exceptional condition triggered when the device system time changes, causing the lock-enforcement path to fail open. Physical access and user interaction are required to change the clock; the bypass restores access blocked by Knox Guard without a reported service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42559
Published
Dec 5, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Product
Samsung Mobile Devices
Classifications
CWE-755
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 5, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

4.9Samsung MobileCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/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-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions

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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