CVE-2026-20979 is a vulnerability categorized under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) affecting Samsung Mobile Devices' Settings application prior to the SMR February 2026 Release 1. The flaw allows local attackers who already have some level of access (local privilege) to escalate their privileges by launching arbitrary activities with the elevated privileges of the Settings app. This can lead to unauthorized changes in device configuration, potentially compromising device security controls or exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of silent exploitation. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates local attack vector with low attack complexity, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality and integrity, but limited availability impact. No network access is required, and the scope is limited to the affected device. No known exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a high severity score of 8.4. Samsung Mobile has reserved the CVE and published the vulnerability details, but patch links are not yet available, indicating the patch is expected with the SMR February 2026 update. This vulnerability is critical for environments where Samsung devices are used for sensitive operations or contain confidential data, as attackers could leverage this flaw to bypass security controls locally.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially in sectors relying heavily on Samsung mobile devices for secure communications and operations, such as government, finance, and critical infrastructure. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized configuration changes, installation of malicious applications, or exposure of sensitive data stored or accessible via the device. Since the attack requires local access and some privilege, the threat is higher in scenarios where devices may be lost, stolen, or accessed by insiders. The confidentiality and integrity of device settings and stored data could be compromised, potentially leading to broader network security risks if devices are used as entry points. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the stealth and potential impact of attacks. Organizations with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies or less stringent mobile device management (MDM) controls are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

1. Apply the Samsung Mobile SMR February 2026 security update immediately upon release to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict local device access controls, including strong authentication and device encryption, to reduce the risk of local attackers gaining initial access. 3. Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions that can enforce security policies, restrict installation of unauthorized applications, and monitor for suspicious activity on Samsung devices. 4. Educate users about the risks of leaving devices unattended or lending them to untrusted individuals. 5. For high-risk environments, consider restricting the use of vulnerable Samsung devices until patched or deploying additional endpoint protection solutions that can detect privilege escalation attempts. 6. Monitor device logs and security alerts for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Coordinate with Samsung support channels to obtain timely information about patch availability and deployment best practices.