CVE-2025-21047 is a vulnerability identified in Samsung Mobile devices, specifically within the KnoxGuard security component. KnoxGuard is designed to provide enhanced security controls and management capabilities on Samsung devices. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, indicating improper access control. It allows an attacker with physical access to the device to invoke privileged APIs that should normally be restricted. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.2 (medium severity), with an attack vector of physical access (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and low availability impact (A:L). This means that while the attacker must have physical possession of the device, they can exploit the vulnerability without needing to authenticate or trick the user. The primary risk is unauthorized access to sensitive information protected by KnoxGuard, potentially exposing confidential data. There is no indication that the vulnerability allows modification of data or denial of service. No patches have been released yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved in November 2024 and published in October 2025, indicating a recent discovery. Samsung Mobile devices are widely deployed globally, including in Europe, making this a relevant concern for organizations and individuals using these devices for secure communications or data storage.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality due to unauthorized access to privileged APIs on Samsung devices. Organizations that use Samsung Mobile devices for handling sensitive corporate data, secure communications, or identity management could face data leakage risks if devices are physically compromised. The requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation but increases the threat in environments with less physical security, such as field operations, mobile workforces, or public-facing roles. The impact on integrity and availability is minimal, but the confidentiality breach could lead to secondary impacts such as intellectual property theft, exposure of personal data under GDPR, or compromise of authentication credentials. This could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score and absence of patches necessitate proactive mitigation. Organizations with high Samsung device usage, especially in sectors like finance, government, and critical infrastructure, should prioritize addressing this vulnerability.

1. Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to devices, including secure storage and access policies for mobile devices. 2. Implement device management solutions that can remotely monitor, lock, or wipe devices suspected of compromise. 3. Educate employees on the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of reporting lost or stolen devices immediately. 4. Apply security updates and patches from Samsung as soon as they become available; monitor Samsung security advisories closely. 5. Use multi-factor authentication and encryption on devices to add layers of protection beyond KnoxGuard. 6. Limit the use of privileged APIs and restrict administrative access where possible through device management policies. 7. Conduct regular audits of device security configurations and access logs to detect suspicious activity. 8. Consider alternative secure device solutions or additional endpoint protection for high-risk users until patches are available.