CVE-2026-20973VulnerabilityPublished 9 Jan 2026

CVE-2026-20973: Samsung Mobile Devices · Out-of-bounds Read

Affects Samsung Mobile DevicesSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.3 Medium.

Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

5.3Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 39% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: Low
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Network: The vulnerable component is bound to the network stack and the set of possible attackers extends beyond the other options listed, up to and including the entire Internet. Such a vulnerability is often termed 'remotely exploitable' and can be thought of as an attack being exploitable at the protocol level one or more network hops away (e.g., across one or more routers).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: Low: There is some loss of confidentiality. Access to some restricted information is obtained, but the attacker does not have control over what information is obtained, or the amount or kind of loss is limited. The information disclosure does not cause a direct, serious loss to the impacted component.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 9 Jan 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
Samsung MobileSamsung Mobile Devices	Affected–	Fixed in–

AI-suggested

1. Monitor Samsung’s official security advisories and promptly apply the SMR January 2026 Release 1 update or any subsequent patches addressing CVE-2026-20973. 2. Implement network segmentation and restrict direct network access to Samsung mobile devices from untrusted sources to reduce exposure. 3. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, control app installations, and monitor device health. 4. Educate users about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks and encourage use of VPNs to secure communications. 5. Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans on mobile endpoints to detect outdated firmware or vulnerable components. 6. Limit the use of Samsung mobile devices for handling highly sensitive data until patches are applied. 7. Collaborate with Samsung support channels for early access to patches or mitigations if available. 8. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying anomalous memory access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive patch management, network exposure reduction, and enhanced monitoring tailored to mobile device vulnerabilities.

Description

CVE-2026-20973 is a medium-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Samsung Mobile Devices affecting the libimagecodec.quram.so component prior to the SMR January 2026 Release 1. This flaw allows a remote attacker to read memory outside the intended bounds without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality but does not affect integrity or availability. Exploitation requires network access but is considered low complexity. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. European organizations using Samsung mobile devices could face data leakage risks if targeted. Mitigation involves timely application of Samsung’s security updates once available and restricting network exposure of vulnerable devices. Countries with high Samsung mobile market penetration and critical infrastructure reliance on mobile communications are most at risk.

Impact

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-20973 lies in the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information from Samsung mobile devices. Since the vulnerability affects the image codec library, attackers could exploit it to extract confidential data processed or stored in memory buffers. This could compromise personal data, corporate communications, or cryptographic material, leading to privacy violations and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. The vulnerability does not affect device integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause service disruptions or data tampering. However, the ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the risk surface, especially for organizations with employees using vulnerable Samsung devices connected to corporate networks or handling sensitive information. The absence of known exploits currently limits immediate impact, but the potential for future exploitation remains. Organizations relying heavily on Samsung mobile devices for secure communications, mobile workforce operations, or critical infrastructure management could face targeted attacks aiming to harvest confidential data. This risk is amplified in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and telecommunications, where data confidentiality is paramount.

Summary

CVE-2026-20973 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125 found in the libimagecodec.quram.so library component of Samsung Mobile Devices. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to the Samsung Mobile Security Release (SMR) January 2026 Release 1. The flaw allows a remote attacker to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without any privileges or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects a medium severity, primarily due to the confidentiality impact without affecting integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the device. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used mobile platform component raises concerns about potential data leakage or information disclosure. The lack of currently available patches necessitates vigilance until Samsung releases the corresponding security update. The vulnerability’s exploitation could allow attackers to access sensitive data residing in memory, which might include cryptographic keys, personal information, or other confidential data processed by the device’s image codec library. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where devices handle a wide range of personal and corporate data. Given the ubiquity of Samsung mobile devices globally, including Europe, this vulnerability represents a tangible risk vector for attackers targeting mobile endpoints.

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read (opens in a new tab)
Base weaknessCWE Top 25 (2025): #8
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
Implementation · Input Validation
Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
Architecture and Design · Language Selection
Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
OWASP Cheat Sheets
XML Security (opens in a new tab)
Mass Assignment (opens in a new tab)
OWASP ASVS 4.0.3
V13.3.1 (opens in a new tab)
V5.1.4 (opens in a new tab)
V5.1.3 (opens in a new tab)
Attack patterns
Overread Buffers (opens in a new tab)
From MITRE CWE, MITRE CAPEC and OWASP (Top 10, OpenCRE).

References

security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2026&month=01 (opens in a new tab)

Community reviews

Loading reviews…

Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 16 Jan 2026, 10:01 UTC

WeaknessesCWE-125

Technical details

References

Community reviews

Related threats