CVE-2023-21492
CVE-2023-21492 is a security flaw in Samsung Mobile Devices, Samsung’s Android phones and tablets. Attackers can read information from Samsung Mobile Devices that should be private. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 19 May 2023.[1]
Samsung Mobile Devices is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version SMR May-2023 Release 1 of Samsung Mobile Devices.
Description
CISA calls it an insertion of sensitive information into log file in Samsung Mobile Devices. In its words: “Samsung mobile devices running Android 11, 12, and 13 contain an insertion of sensitive information into log file vulnerability that allows a privileged, local attacker to conduct an address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass.”[1]
The underlying weakness is CWE-532, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 4.4 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Samsung Mobile Devices | SMR May-2023 Release 1 |
Every device with Samsung Mobile Devices needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 19 May 2023, 15 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 9 Jun 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 3%. That’s in the top 15% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Samsung has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Samsung Mobile Devices now.On Android: Settings, then System or Software update. Phones only get these fixes while their maker still supports them. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on SMR May-2023 Release 1 or later.Fixed in version SMR May-2023 Release 1 of Samsung Mobile Devices. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 4.4.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 3%.[4] |
See also
Other Samsung Mobile Devices flaws
- CVE-2025-21042: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-21043: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2022-22265: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-25489: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2021-25487: out-of-bounds read ·
- CVE-2021-25395: race condition ·
Other Samsung flaws
- CVE-2024-7399, Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server: path traversal ·
- CVE-2025-4632, Samsung MagicINFO 9 Server: path traversal ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2025-24984, Microsoft Windows: NTFS information disclosure ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2016-6415, Cisco IOS, IOS XR, and IOS XE: iKEv1 information disclosure ·
- CVE-2004-1464, Cisco IOS: denial-of-service ·
Every Samsung flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Samsung Mobile Devices Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Log File Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 19 May 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-21492 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 4 May 2023.
- ^ Samsung. Advisories and fixes: security.samsungmobile.com, security.samsungmobile.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.026, percentile 85.1, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-21492”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.