CVE-2025-21000 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) affecting Samsung Mobile devices' Bluetooth functionality prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) July 2025 Release 1. The flaw allows a local attacker to enable Bluetooth on the device without requiring any privileges, user interaction, or authentication. The vulnerability arises from improper management of privileges related to Bluetooth control, permitting unauthorized activation of Bluetooth services. Although the vulnerability does not directly disclose data or allow remote exploitation, enabling Bluetooth without user consent can expose the device to further attacks such as unauthorized device discovery, data interception, or exploitation of other Bluetooth-related vulnerabilities. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.2 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, no confidentiality impact, but high integrity impact due to unauthorized control over Bluetooth state. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on upcoming security releases from Samsung.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily in environments where Samsung Mobile devices are widely used and where Bluetooth is a critical communication or data exchange channel. Unauthorized enabling of Bluetooth could lead to increased attack surface, allowing adversaries to perform reconnaissance, unauthorized data access, or lateral movement within corporate networks via Bluetooth-based exploits. This is particularly concerning in sectors with sensitive data or strict compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions. Additionally, the lack of user interaction or privileges required means that even non-privileged users or malicious insiders could exploit this vulnerability, potentially bypassing organizational security policies that restrict wireless communications. The impact is heightened in scenarios where devices are used in proximity to sensitive equipment or networks, as Bluetooth activation could facilitate covert data exfiltration or injection of malicious payloads.

Organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Monitor and inventory Samsung Mobile devices to identify those running vulnerable firmware versions prior to the SMR July 2025 Release 1. 2) Apply Samsung's official security updates promptly once available to remediate the vulnerability. 3) Implement device management policies that restrict Bluetooth usage via Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, enforcing Bluetooth disablement where not strictly necessary. 4) Employ network segmentation and Bluetooth traffic monitoring to detect anomalous Bluetooth activity indicative of unauthorized enabling or exploitation attempts. 5) Educate users about the risks of unauthorized Bluetooth activation and encourage reporting of unexpected Bluetooth behavior. 6) For high-security environments, consider disabling Bluetooth hardware via hardware controls or BIOS/UEFI settings where feasible. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on device-specific management and proactive detection tailored to this vulnerability's characteristics.