CVE-2025-21012 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) affecting Samsung Mobile Devices, specifically related to the fall detection feature on Galaxy Watch models prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) August 2025 Release 1. The vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to modify the fall detection configuration without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have physical or local access to the device. The improper access control flaw means that the system does not adequately restrict who can change critical safety-related settings, such as fall detection parameters. While the vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity directly, it affects availability (A:H) by potentially disabling or altering fall detection functionality, which could prevent timely emergency alerts or cause false alarms. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in November 2024 and published in August 2025, indicating a relatively recent discovery and disclosure. This flaw is significant because fall detection is a critical safety feature for vulnerable users, such as elderly or disabled individuals relying on the Galaxy Watch for emergency assistance. Unauthorized modification of this feature could lead to missed emergency notifications or unnecessary alerts, impacting user safety and trust in the device.

For European organizations, especially those in healthcare, eldercare, and emergency response sectors, this vulnerability poses a risk to the reliability of wearable health monitoring devices used by patients and clients. Disruption or manipulation of fall detection could lead to delayed medical responses or false emergency calls, potentially endangering lives and increasing liability risks. Enterprises providing managed healthcare services or employee wellness programs using Samsung Galaxy Watches might face operational challenges and reputational damage if devices fail to perform as expected. Additionally, organizations involved in critical infrastructure or security sectors that issue such devices to personnel for safety monitoring could experience reduced situational awareness. Although the vulnerability requires local access and limited privileges, the risk is elevated in environments where devices are shared, lost, or physically accessible by unauthorized individuals. The lack of confidentiality and integrity impact reduces the risk of data breaches, but the availability impact on safety features is significant from a human safety perspective.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit and restrict physical access to Galaxy Watch devices, especially in sensitive environments, to prevent unauthorized local access. 2) Monitor device configurations regularly for unauthorized changes to fall detection settings using mobile device management (MDM) or endpoint management solutions that support wearable devices. 3) Educate users and administrators about the importance of securing devices and reporting any abnormal behavior in fall detection alerts. 4) Apply the SMR August 2025 Release 1 update as soon as it becomes available from Samsung to patch the vulnerability. 5) Implement additional layers of authentication or device locking mechanisms to limit local privilege escalation opportunities. 6) Consider alternative or supplementary fall detection solutions in critical use cases until the patch is applied. 7) Establish incident response procedures to handle potential failures or misuse of fall detection features, including manual verification protocols.