CVE-2026-20968 is a use-after-free vulnerability categorized under CWE-416, affecting Samsung Mobile devices specifically within the DualDAR component before the SMR January 2026 Release 1 update. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. In this case, the flaw allows a local attacker with elevated privileges to execute arbitrary code on the device, compromising system integrity and potentially confidentiality and availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not affect remote attackers, limiting the attack vector to local privileged users. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates that the attack requires local access with high privileges but is otherwise straightforward to exploit without user interaction or complex conditions. No public exploits are known at this time, but the risk remains significant due to the potential for privilege escalation and code execution on widely used mobile devices. Samsung Mobile has reserved the CVE and is expected to release patches in the SMR January 2026 update. Until then, affected devices remain vulnerable.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in environments where Samsung Mobile devices are used by privileged personnel or where local access to devices can be obtained by attackers. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt device functionality. This could impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate data accessed or stored on these devices. Industries with high mobile device usage, such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure, are particularly at risk. The medium CVSS score reflects the requirement for local privileged access, which limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threats or attacks via compromised devices. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts. Organizations relying heavily on Samsung Mobile devices should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning.

1. Restrict local privileged access to Samsung Mobile devices by enforcing strict access controls and least privilege principles. 2. Monitor device usage and logs for unusual or unauthorized activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and the importance of device security. 4. Apply the SMR January 2026 Release 1 update or later patches from Samsung as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 5. Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and facilitate rapid patch deployment. 6. Consider additional endpoint protection measures that can detect or prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. 7. Limit installation of untrusted applications and avoid granting unnecessary privileges to apps or users. 8. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on mobile device fleets to identify and mitigate risks proactively.