Samsung DSP Driver Out-of-Bounds Memory Access Local Privilege Escalation (CVE-2021-25372)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTSamsung mobile devices with DSP (Digital Signal Processor) driver prior to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1
Local attackers can exploit improper boundary checks to gain out-of-bounds memory access, leading to local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution in kernel space
Apply the official Samsung security update to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 or later
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is to apply the official Samsung OTA update. For enterprise environments, enforce the update using Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies.
# Verify the current security patch level of the connected Android device via ADB
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Ensure the output date is '2021-03-01' or later.2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict local attack vectors by disabling ADB debugging and blocking the installation of applications from untrusted sources.
# Disable ADB debugging to prevent local exploitation vectors
adb shell settings put global adb_enabled 0
# Enforce restriction on installing apps from unknown sources
adb shell settings put secure install_non_market_apps 03. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Monitor system logs for abnormal crashes or segmentation faults associated with the DSP driver to detect potential exploitation attempts.
# Monitor system logs for DSP driver anomalies or kernel panics
adb logcat | grep -Ei 'dsp|ion|out-of-bounds|segfault|kernel panic'Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2021-25372) is an improper boundary check issue residing in the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) kernel driver of Samsung mobile devices. The root cause lies in the insufficient validation of input parameters and buffer sizes passed from user space to kernel space. This lack of validation allows an attacker to trigger out-of-bounds memory access (CWE-787 / CWE-703), corrupting critical kernel memory structures.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker with local shell access or running a malicious application on the device can interact with the vulnerable /dev/dsp device node using crafted ioctl system calls. By supplying malformed offset values that bypass boundary checks, the attacker can overwrite or read arbitrary kernel memory. Since this vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, it has been actively exploited in the wild to bypass Android sandbox protections and achieve root/kernel-level privileges.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability completely compromises the device's integrity. Attackers can bypass the Android security model, access sensitive enterprise data, intercept communications, and install persistent malware. In an enterprise environment, compromised mobile endpoints can serve as a primary entry point for lateral movement into internal corporate networks.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
An improper boundary check in DSP driver prior to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 allows out of bounds memory access.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2021-25372)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2021-25372 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2021-25372 is rated CVSS 6.7 (MEDIUM) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 0.8%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2021-25372?
Primary impacted vendors include samsung across dsp driver, galaxy firmware. Scope summary: Samsung mobile devices running firmware versions prior to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2021-25372 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the official Samsung security update to SMR Mar-2021 Release 1 or later Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2021-25372
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
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