Critical Out-of-Bounds Read in Samsung Mobile Modem Driver (CVE‑2021‑25487) Threatens Device Integrity
What It Is
Samsung’s mobile devices embed a modem‑interface driver that fails to enforce proper boundary checks on a buffer in the set_skb_priv() routine. The flaw permits an out‑of‑bounds read that can be leveraged to dereference an invalid function pointer, ultimately enabling remote code execution on the device.
Exploitability
The vulnerability is classified as Critical (CVSS ≥ 9.0) and is remotely exploitable without user interaction. Proof‑of‑concept code has been publicly released, and the CVE is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.
Affected Products
- Vendor: Samsung
- Product Scope: All Samsung mobile devices that ship with the vulnerable modem driver (specific model list disclosed by Samsung security advisory).
Why It Matters for Compliance & Audit Readiness
A compromised handset can become a foothold for lateral movement, data exfiltration, or espionage—scenarios that directly impact vendor‑management controls and asset‑inventory integrity. Demonstrating that you have:
- Validated vendor patch status through continuous control monitoring,
- Documented remediation evidence in your audit trail, and
- Mapped the device to the “Secure Configuration” control in your Trust Center,
provides a defensible posture under frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and industry‑specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA, PCI‑DSS). Failure to address this CVE could be cited as a lapse in due‑diligence during an audit.
Recommended Actions
- Identify all Samsung devices in scope via your asset inventory.
- Confirm patch level against Samsung’s security bulletin for CVE‑2021‑25487.
- Apply the latest OTA update or firmware that resolves the modem driver issue.
- Capture patch‑deployment evidence (e.g., MDM logs, screenshots) for audit readiness.
- Update your vendor‑risk register to reflect the remediation status and schedule periodic re‑validation.
- Monitor network traffic for anomalous modem‑level activity as an early‑indicator control.
Source: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25487