📄 Description (English)
Samsung Mobile Devices Improper Input Validation Vulnerability — Samsung mobile devices contain an improper input validation vulnerability within the modem interface driver that results in a format string bug leading to kernel panic.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
A critical format string vulnerability (CVE-2021-25489) in Samsung mobile device modem drivers allows attackers to trigger kernel panics through improper input validation. With a CVSS score of 9.0 and publicly available exploits, this poses significant risk to Saudi organizations relying on Samsung devices for enterprise mobility. Immediate patching is essential to prevent denial-of-service attacks and potential privilege escalation.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 20, 2026 06:37
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
High impact on Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions using Samsung devices for mobile banking), government agencies (NCA, Ministry of Interior), healthcare providers (MOH), and telecommunications companies (STC, Mobily, Zain). Enterprise users across energy sector (ARAMCO) and financial services face operational disruption risks. The vulnerability affects device availability and could be weaponized in targeted attacks against critical infrastructure personnel.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Defense and Security
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service (kernel panic exploitation)
T1561 - Disk Wipe (potential data loss from unexpected reboots)
T1529 - System Shutdown/Reboot (forced device restart)
T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution (format string exploitation)
T1657 - Financial Theft (potential impact on mobile banking users)
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.7
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Samsung mobile devices in enterprise inventory using MDM/EMM solutions
2. Prioritize patching for devices used by critical personnel (banking, government, healthcare)
3. Enable device monitoring for kernel panic events and unexpected reboots
4. Restrict modem interface access where possible through SELinux policies
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Deploy Samsung security updates through Knox Mobile Enrollment or OTA channels
2. Verify patch installation via Samsung Knox Security Status
3. Test patches in non-production environment first
4. Establish rollback procedures before enterprise deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching delayed):
1. Implement network-level monitoring for suspicious modem traffic patterns
2. Disable unnecessary modem features/interfaces via device policies
3. Enforce strict application whitelisting to prevent malicious payload delivery
4. Isolate affected devices from critical network segments
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor system logs for kernel panic events (dmesg, logcat)
2. Alert on unexpected device reboots during business hours
3. Track failed modem driver initialization attempts
4. Monitor for format string injection patterns in modem interface calls
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع أجهزة Samsung المحمولة في المخزون الموظفين باستخدام حلول MDM/EMM
2. إعطاء الأولوية للتصحيح للأجهزة المستخدمة من قبل الموظفين الحرجين (البنوك والحكومة والرعاية الصحية)
3. تفعيل مراقبة الجهاز لأحداث توقف النواة وإعادة التشغيل غير المتوقعة
4. تقييد الوصول إلى واجهة المودم حيث أمكن من خلال سياسات SELinux
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. نشر تحديثات أمان Samsung من خلال Knox Mobile Enrollment أو قنوات OTA
2. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح عبر حالة أمان Samsung Knox
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
4. إنشاء إجراءات التراجع قبل نشر المؤسسة
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح الفوري):
1. تنفيذ مراقبة على مستوى الشبكة لأنماط حركة المودم المريبة
2. تعطيل ميزات/واجهات المودم غير الضرورية عبر سياسات الجهاز
3. فرض قائمة تطبيقات صارمة لمنع تسليم الحمولات الضارة
4. عزل الأجهزة المتأثرة عن القطاعات الحرجة في الشبكة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات النظام لأحداث توقف النواة (dmesg, logcat)
2. تنبيه إعادة تشغيل الجهاز غير المتوقعة أثناء ساعات العمل
3. تتبع محاولات تهيئة برنامج تشغيل المودم الفاشلة
4. مراقبة أنماط حقن سلسلة التنسيق في استدعاءات واجهة المودم
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies (device security requirements)
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - User Endpoint Devices (mobile device security controls)
ECC 2024 A.8.1.3 - Mobile Device Management (patch management for mobile devices)
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities (timely patching)
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.BE-3.1 - Organizational resilience (device availability)
SAMA CSF PR.IP-3.1 - Configuration management (mobile device hardening)
SAMA CSF PR.MA-2.1 - Maintenance and repair (security updates)
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1.1 - Detection processes (kernel panic monitoring)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1 - Policies for information security (mobile device policy)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - User endpoint devices (endpoint security)
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - Privileged access rights (modem interface access control)
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6 - Management of technical vulnerabilities (patch management)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security patches for system components
PCI DSS 12.3 - Establish user security policies for mobile devices
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Samsung:Mobile Devices