Cyber Resilience

CVE-2021-25372

Memory Safety in Samsung Android 10.0 … 11.0

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedMemory Safety
Published
26 March 2021
Modified
14 January 2026
KEV Added
29 June 2023
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 6.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0080 53th percentile
Risk Priority 75 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2021-25372 is a medium-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Samsung Android. Its CVSS base score is 6.1 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 47% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

The vulnerability is an improper boundary check in the DSP driver that permits out of bounds memory access. It affects the DSP driver in Samsung devices prior to the SMR Mar-2021 Release 1, as indicated by the associated CWEs for out-of-bounds write and improper check or handling of exceptional conditions.

Exploitation requires physical access to the device along with high attack complexity and high privileges, after which an attacker can achieve high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS vector confirms the attack is local and does not rely on user interaction.

Samsung security advisories direct users to apply the March 2021 maintenance release that resolves the issue in the DSP driver. The vulnerability appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming observed real-world exploitation.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

An improper boundary check in DSP driver prior to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 allows out of bounds memory access.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
29 June 2023

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
T1211 Exploitation for Stealth Stealth
Adversaries may exploit vulnerabilities to evade detection by hiding activity, suppressing logging, or operating within trusted or unmonitored components.
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-30669Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2023-42557Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2025-20937Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2025-20943Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2023-30670Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2023-42560Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2025-20963Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2024-20863Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2023-30648Same product: Samsung Android
CVE-2023-42535Same product: Samsung Android

Affected Assets

samsung
android
10.0, 11.0

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-703

Implements explicit check and handling for the exceptional condition of audit logging process failure.

addresses: CWE-703

Establishing and monitoring system metrics with correlation and response actions helps identify and address improper handling of exceptional conditions.

addresses: CWE-703

Provides a defined response to detected conditions by restricting operation, ensuring exceptional conditions are handled rather than ignored or mishandled.

addresses: CWE-703

Contingency training equips users with defined procedures to check and respond to exceptional conditions during disruptions, reducing exploitation of mishandled errors.

addresses: CWE-703

Testing verifies the system's ability to detect, handle, and recover from exceptional conditions as part of the plan, reducing exploitability of improper exception handling.

addresses: CWE-703

Regular updates keep contingency procedures aligned with system changes, providing structured handling for exceptional conditions that would otherwise allow unmitigated exploitation.

addresses: CWE-703

Policy defines checks and handling for exceptional conditions arising from security incidents.

addresses: CWE-703

Performing IR tests ensures exceptional conditions are properly checked and handled to enable effective response.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.

prevents

Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.

prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References