CVE-2026-20968 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 affecting the DualDAR component in Samsung Mobile devices. Use-after-free occurs 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 vulnerability exists in Samsung Mobile devices running firmware versions prior to the SMR (Security Maintenance Release) January 2026 Release 1. The flaw allows local attackers who already have privileged access on the device to exploit the use-after-free condition to execute arbitrary code with high privileges. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no authentication required beyond privilege (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and results in high impact on availability (VA:H) but no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly but can lead to denial of service or privilege escalation through arbitrary code execution. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is significant due to the potential for local privilege escalation and code execution on widely used Samsung Mobile devices. The absence of patch links suggests that the fix is either newly released or pending deployment. Organizations relying on Samsung Mobile devices should monitor for firmware updates and apply patches promptly to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-20968 centers on the risk of local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution on Samsung Mobile devices. This can compromise device availability and potentially allow attackers to bypass security controls, leading to unauthorized actions on the device. While remote exploitation is not feasible, insider threats or malware with local privileged access could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or maintain persistence. This is particularly critical for sectors relying on mobile devices for secure communications, such as government, finance, and critical infrastructure. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks if compromised devices are connected to enterprise systems. Additionally, disruption or compromise of mobile endpoints could impact business continuity and data security. Given the widespread use of Samsung Mobile devices in Europe, failure to patch could expose organizations to increased risk from internal threat actors or sophisticated malware.

1. Apply the SMR January 2026 Release 1 firmware update from Samsung as soon as it becomes available to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict local privileged access on Samsung Mobile devices by enforcing strict access controls and minimizing the number of users with elevated privileges. 3. Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor device integrity, enforce security policies, and deploy patches efficiently. 4. Conduct regular audits of device privilege assignments and remove unnecessary privileged accounts. 5. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications or granting elevated permissions that could be exploited locally. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts on mobile devices. 7. Isolate critical mobile devices from untrusted networks and limit their exposure to potentially malicious local applications or scripts. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical data stored on mobile devices to enable recovery in case of compromise.