CVE-2025-20997 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Samsung Mobile Devices, specifically related to the Framework component of Galaxy Watch devices prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) July 2025 Release 1. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-276, which pertains to incorrect default permissions. In this case, the Framework component has been configured with overly permissive default permissions, allowing local attackers—those with physical or local access to the device—to reset certain configurations on the Galaxy Watch without requiring any privileges or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), high integrity impact (I:H), and no availability impact (A:N). This means that while the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, it allows an attacker to alter device configurations, potentially undermining device integrity and user trust. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests it is not yet actively exploited, but the presence of incorrect default permissions is a common security weakness that can be leveraged in targeted attacks or by malicious insiders. The vulnerability affects Galaxy Watch devices running firmware versions before the July 2025 SMR update, emphasizing the importance of timely patching once available. No specific patch links are provided yet, indicating that remediation may be pending or distributed through official Samsung update channels.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability primarily concerns the integrity of Galaxy Watch devices used within corporate environments or by employees. Organizations that deploy Samsung Galaxy Watches as part of their wearable technology ecosystem—especially in sectors like healthcare, finance, or government where device configuration integrity is critical—may face risks of unauthorized configuration changes. Such changes could disable security features, alter device behavior, or facilitate further attacks on connected systems. Although the vulnerability requires local access, in scenarios where devices are lost, stolen, or accessed by unauthorized personnel, this flaw could be exploited to compromise device settings. This may lead to indirect impacts such as loss of trust in device security, potential leakage of sensitive operational configurations, or disruption of device-dependent workflows. Given the increasing adoption of wearable devices in European workplaces and the integration of such devices with corporate networks and applications, the vulnerability could have broader implications if exploited at scale. However, the lack of confidentiality and availability impact limits the direct damage to data breaches or service outages.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy: 1) Ensure all Samsung Galaxy Watch devices are updated to the latest firmware version, specifically the SMR July 2025 Release 1 or later, as this update addresses the incorrect default permissions issue. 2) Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices, including secure storage policies and employee awareness training about device handling. 3) Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions that support wearable devices to monitor device configurations and detect unauthorized changes promptly. 4) Restrict the use of Galaxy Watches in high-risk environments where local access by untrusted individuals is possible. 5) Coordinate with Samsung support channels to receive timely updates and advisories related to this vulnerability. 6) Conduct regular audits of device configurations and permissions to identify any anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on firmware updates, physical security, device management, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of the vulnerability.