CVE-2025-20986 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) affecting Samsung Mobile Devices, specifically related to the ScreenCapture functionality on Galaxy Watch devices prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) June 2025 Release 1. The vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to capture screenshots without proper authorization. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.5 reflects a moderate risk, with the attack vector being local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), and requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), as unauthorized screenshots could expose sensitive information displayed on the device. There is no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, making exploitation easier once local access is obtained. However, no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The issue stems from improper access control in the ScreenCapture feature, which should restrict screenshot capabilities to authorized processes or users but fails to do so adequately in affected versions. This vulnerability is specific to Samsung Galaxy Watch devices, which run a specialized OS variant and have unique security models compared to smartphones. The lack of a patch at the time of publication suggests that users should be cautious and monitor for updates from Samsung.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is primarily on confidentiality. Galaxy Watch devices are increasingly used in corporate environments for notifications, health monitoring, and potentially sensitive communications. Unauthorized screenshots could leak sensitive corporate data, personal health information, or confidential notifications displayed on the watch. Although the attack requires local access and some privilege level, insider threats or attackers who gain physical access to the device could exploit this vulnerability. This could lead to data breaches or privacy violations, especially under strict European data protection regulations such as GDPR. The vulnerability does not affect device integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause operational disruption. However, the exposure of sensitive information could have reputational and compliance consequences for organizations. Since the vulnerability is limited to Galaxy Watch devices, the impact is constrained to organizations that deploy these wearables as part of their IT ecosystem.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting physical and local access to Galaxy Watch devices within the organization to trusted personnel only. 2. Monitor for official Samsung SMR June 2025 Release 1 or later updates and apply patches promptly once available. 3. Implement device management policies that limit the use of ScreenCapture features or disable them if possible until patched. 4. Educate employees about the risks of leaving devices unattended or accessible to unauthorized users. 5. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions that support wearable devices to enforce security policies and monitor device status. 6. Conduct regular audits of wearable device usage and access logs to detect any suspicious activity. 7. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting or avoiding the use of vulnerable Galaxy Watch models until the vulnerability is resolved.