CVE-2025-21015 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) identified in the Document Scanner component of Samsung Mobile Devices prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) August 2025 Release 1. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to manipulate file paths improperly, bypassing restrictions intended to confine file operations to a safe directory. Exploiting this flaw, an attacker with local access can delete arbitrary files on the device with the privileges of the Document Scanner application. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or elevated privileges, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), meaning an attacker only needs local access to the device to exploit it. The impact is limited to integrity (file deletion), with no direct confidentiality or availability impacts reported. The vulnerability is rated medium severity with a CVSS score of 4.0. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links have been published yet. The vulnerability arises from improper validation or sanitization of pathname inputs, allowing traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to escape the intended directory scope and perform unauthorized file deletions. This flaw is significant because the Document Scanner app typically has elevated privileges to access and modify files, so exploitation can lead to loss of important user or system files, potentially causing application malfunctions or data loss. Since the vulnerability requires local access, remote exploitation is not feasible without additional attack vectors such as physical access or local malware presence. Samsung Mobile Devices, widely used globally including Europe, are affected, but the exact affected versions are unspecified. The vulnerability is expected to be addressed in the upcoming SMR August 2025 Release 1.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-21015 depends largely on the deployment of Samsung Mobile Devices within their environment and the security posture regarding local device access. The vulnerability allows local attackers to delete files with the Document Scanner app's privileges, potentially leading to data loss or corruption of scanned documents and related files. This could disrupt workflows relying on document scanning, such as digital archiving, identity verification, or document management processes. In sectors like finance, healthcare, or government, where document integrity is critical, such file deletions could hinder operations or compliance efforts. Moreover, if attackers leverage this vulnerability in combination with other local exploits or malware, it could facilitate broader compromise or persistence on devices. However, since exploitation requires local access without user interaction or elevated privileges, the threat is mitigated by strong physical security controls and endpoint protection. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but organizations should remain vigilant. The vulnerability does not directly impact confidentiality or availability, but integrity loss can have downstream operational consequences. Organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or mobile workforce using Samsung devices should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments.

1. Apply the official Samsung SMR August 2025 Release 1 update as soon as it becomes available to patch the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict physical security and device access controls to prevent unauthorized local access to mobile devices. 3. Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor and restrict installation of unauthorized applications or malware that could facilitate local exploitation. 4. Educate users on the risks of local device compromise and encourage use of strong device authentication mechanisms (PIN, biometrics). 5. Regularly back up important scanned documents and related files to secure cloud or enterprise storage to mitigate data loss from file deletion. 6. Monitor device logs for unusual file deletion activities related to the Document Scanner app. 7. Limit the privileges of the Document Scanner app where possible, or use application sandboxing features to reduce the scope of file system access. 8. For organizations with sensitive workflows relying on document scanning, consider temporary alternative scanning solutions until the patch is applied.