CVE-2025-21042MalwarePublished 7 Nov 2025

Landfall Android Spyware Targeted Samsung Phones via Zero-Day

Source SecurityWeek

Authoritative record:CVE-2025-21042· High 8.8

Exploited in the wild · KEV due 1 Dec 2025 : block it and hunt for it in your logs now.

Data as of 11 Nov 2025, 02:16 UTC

CVSS base score

8.8High

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

KEV deadline: 1 Dec 2025 US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else.

Exploitation evidence

t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Sep 2025
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: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 59 days after disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

CVE ID reserved
by SamsungMobile
2024-11-0602:30Z, 310 days before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
2025-09-1207:21Z, t = 0
In Threat Radar
record ingested
2025-09-1207:23Z, 2 minutes after disclosure
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
2025-11-10, 59 days after disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
2025-12-01, 80 days after disclosure

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.

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–

Description

Threat actors exploited CVE-2025-21042 to deliver malware via specially crafted images to users in the Middle East. The post Landfall Android Spyware Targeted Samsung Phones via Zero-Day appeared first on SecurityWeek .

Impact

For European organizations, the Landfall spyware campaign poses a risk primarily through the compromise of Samsung Android devices used by employees or within operational environments. The spyware can lead to significant breaches of confidentiality by exfiltrating sensitive corporate data, communications, and credentials. Integrity of device data and system configurations may also be undermined, potentially facilitating further lateral movement or persistent access. Availability impact is less direct but could arise if compromised devices are rendered unstable or if remediation efforts disrupt normal operations. The stealthy nature of the spyware complicates detection and response, increasing the risk of prolonged undetected espionage or data leakage. European organizations with business or diplomatic ties to the Middle East may face elevated targeting risk due to the campaign's regional focus. Additionally, sectors such as government, defense, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable given their reliance on secure mobile communications and the strategic value of the information handled. The absence of patches at the time of discovery means organizations must rely on interim mitigations to reduce exposure.

Defensive guidance

1. Monitor official Samsung and Android security advisories closely for patches addressing CVE-2025-21042 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Implement strict controls on the receipt and processing of image files, especially from untrusted or unknown sources, including email filtering and messaging app restrictions. 3. Employ mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behaviors associated with spyware installation or execution. 4. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited images and encourage reporting of suspicious messages. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with mobile capabilities to identify indicators of compromise related to Landfall spyware. 6. Restrict device permissions to limit spyware capabilities, such as access to microphone, camera, and location services, unless explicitly required. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on mobile device security posture. 8. For high-risk organizations, consider network segmentation and use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to reduce exposure of sensitive data. 9. Collaborate with threat intelligence providers to stay informed about emerging indicators and attack patterns related to Landfall. 10. Develop and test incident response plans specific to mobile device compromise scenarios.

References

securityweek.com/landfall-android-spyware-targeted-samsung-phones-via-zero-day/ (opens in a new tab)

Community reviews

Loading reviews…

Exploitation evidence

Timeline

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 7 Nov 2025, 15:43 UTC

References

Community reviews

Related threats