CVE-2025-20998: CWE-284: Improper Access Control in Samsung Mobile Samsung Mobile Devices
Improper access control in SamsungAccount for Galaxy Watch prior to SMR Jul-2025 Release 1 allows local attackers to access phone number.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-20998 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) affecting Samsung Mobile Devices, specifically related to the SamsungAccount component for Galaxy Watch models prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) July 2025 Release 1. The vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to access sensitive user information, specifically the phone number associated with the device, without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the device, such as physical access or through a compromised local user account. The vulnerability does not impact the integrity or availability of the system but compromises confidentiality by exposing private user data. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a moderate risk due to the limited attack vector and privileges required but significant confidentiality impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates are explicitly linked in the provided data, though the vulnerability is addressed in the SMR July 2025 Release 1. The root cause is improper access control within the SamsungAccount application on Galaxy Watch devices, which fails to adequately restrict access to sensitive data such as the phone number, allowing unauthorized local users to retrieve this information.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the exposure of phone numbers through this vulnerability could lead to privacy violations and potential targeted social engineering or phishing attacks. Organizations that issue Samsung Galaxy Watch devices to employees as part of corporate mobile device management (MDM) or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk of information leakage. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust in corporate security policies and complicate compliance with GDPR regulations, which mandate strict protection of personal data. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the leakage of phone numbers could be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks, such as SIM swapping or targeted phishing campaigns against employees. This risk is particularly relevant for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure within Europe. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or physical access scenarios remain a concern.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should prioritize updating Samsung Galaxy Watch devices to the SMR July 2025 Release 1 or later, which addresses this vulnerability. Until updates are applied, organizations should enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices, including locking devices when not in use and restricting access to trusted personnel only. Implementing endpoint management solutions that can monitor and restrict application permissions on wearable devices can help mitigate unauthorized data access. Additionally, organizations should educate employees about the risks of local device access and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices immediately. From a policy perspective, limiting the use of vulnerable devices in high-security environments and segregating sensitive data access can reduce exposure. Monitoring for unusual access patterns or attempts to extract sensitive data from wearable devices can also provide early detection of exploitation attempts.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium
CVE-2025-20998: CWE-284: Improper Access Control in Samsung Mobile Samsung Mobile Devices
Description
Improper access control in SamsungAccount for Galaxy Watch prior to SMR Jul-2025 Release 1 allows local attackers to access phone number.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-20998 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) affecting Samsung Mobile Devices, specifically related to the SamsungAccount component for Galaxy Watch models prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) July 2025 Release 1. The vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to access sensitive user information, specifically the phone number associated with the device, without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the device, such as physical access or through a compromised local user account. The vulnerability does not impact the integrity or availability of the system but compromises confidentiality by exposing private user data. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a moderate risk due to the limited attack vector and privileges required but significant confidentiality impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates are explicitly linked in the provided data, though the vulnerability is addressed in the SMR July 2025 Release 1. The root cause is improper access control within the SamsungAccount application on Galaxy Watch devices, which fails to adequately restrict access to sensitive data such as the phone number, allowing unauthorized local users to retrieve this information.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the exposure of phone numbers through this vulnerability could lead to privacy violations and potential targeted social engineering or phishing attacks. Organizations that issue Samsung Galaxy Watch devices to employees as part of corporate mobile device management (MDM) or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk of information leakage. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust in corporate security policies and complicate compliance with GDPR regulations, which mandate strict protection of personal data. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the leakage of phone numbers could be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks, such as SIM swapping or targeted phishing campaigns against employees. This risk is particularly relevant for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure within Europe. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or physical access scenarios remain a concern.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should prioritize updating Samsung Galaxy Watch devices to the SMR July 2025 Release 1 or later, which addresses this vulnerability. Until updates are applied, organizations should enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices, including locking devices when not in use and restricting access to trusted personnel only. Implementing endpoint management solutions that can monitor and restrict application permissions on wearable devices can help mitigate unauthorized data access. Additionally, organizations should educate employees about the risks of local device access and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices immediately. From a policy perspective, limiting the use of vulnerable devices in high-security environments and segregating sensitive data access can reduce exposure. Monitoring for unusual access patterns or attempts to extract sensitive data from wearable devices can also provide early detection of exploitation attempts.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- SamsungMobile
- Date Reserved
- 2024-11-06T02:30:14.875Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 686cf5636f40f0eb72f3f5c8
Added to database: 7/8/2025, 10:39:31 AM
Last enriched: 7/15/2025, 9:32:30 PM
Last updated: 8/4/2025, 10:23:20 PM
Views: 18
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