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VulnerabilityPublished

CVE-2026-20974: Samsung Mobile Devices · Improper Input Validation

Affects Samsung Mobile DevicesSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.2 Medium.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 08:30 UTC

CVSS 4.0 base score
5.2Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 9 Jan 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Samsung MobileSamsung Mobile DevicesAffected–Fixed in–

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2026-20974, European organizations should implement a multi-layered approach beyond generic advice. First, enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to mobile devices, including secure storage and device tracking. Second, monitor Samsung’s official security advisories and promptly apply the SMR January 2026 Release 1 or subsequent patches addressing this vulnerability once available. Third, implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions that can detect and restrict unauthorized carrier unlocking attempts or unusual network behavior. Fourth, educate users about the risks of physical device compromise and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices immediately. Fifth, consider deploying additional endpoint security controls that can alert on changes to device network configurations or SIM status. Finally, collaborate with mobile carriers to monitor for suspicious device activity that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. These targeted measures will help reduce the risk of exploitation and maintain control over mobile device network restrictions.

Description

CVE-2026-20974 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Samsung Mobile devices due to improper input validation related to network restrictions. This flaw allows a physical attacker to bypass the Carrier Relock feature, which is intended to restrict device use to specific carriers. The vulnerability requires physical access but no authentication or user interaction, and it does not impact confidentiality or availability directly but compromises device integrity. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. European organizations using Samsung Mobile devices could face risks of unauthorized carrier unlocking, potentially leading to unauthorized network access or device misuse. Mitigation involves monitoring for firmware updates from Samsung and restricting physical access to devices. Countries with high Samsung device penetration and significant mobile carrier infrastructure, such as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain, are most likely to be affected. Given the medium CVSS score of 5.2, the threat is moderate but should be addressed proactively to prevent exploitation.

References

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