Samsung Android libimagecodec.quram.so Out-of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042) Urgent Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTSamsung Android mobile devices running security patch levels prior to SMR Apr-2025 Release 1
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with high privileges and compromise the device without user interaction by triggering an out-of-bounds write during image decoding.
Immediately apply the Samsung April 2025 Security Maintenance Release (SMR Apr-2025 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 policy via your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
# Manual update check path on Samsung Android devices:
# Settings -> Software update -> Download and install2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, disable automatic media downloads in all messaging and email applications to prevent zero-click rendering of malicious images.
# Disable installation of apps from unknown sources and restrict automatic media downloads via ADB
adb shell settings put global install_non_market_apps 0
adb shell settings put global auto_download_media_over_wifi 03. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to verify the current security patch level and inspect the vulnerable library file.
# Check the current security patch level (vulnerable if prior to 2025-04-01)
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Verify the presence and properties of the target shared library
adb shell ls -la /system/lib*/libimagecodec.quram.soBlock 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-2025-21042) is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) vulnerability residing in the 'libimagecodec.quram.so' library, which is responsible for image decoding and processing on Samsung Android devices. The root cause lies in insufficient input validation when parsing malformed image headers or metadata, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries in memory.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker crafts a malicious image file containing anomalous dimensions or corrupted metadata. When a target device processes this image—either via web browsing, receiving it through messaging applications, or previewing it in the gallery—the vulnerable 'libimagecodec.quram.so' library is invoked to decode the file. The parsing process triggers a buffer overflow, overwriting adjacent memory structures and hijacking the execution flow. This enables remote code execution (RCE) without requiring active user interaction. This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild as part of commercial spyware campaigns.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical) and its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog, this vulnerability poses an immediate threat to enterprise mobile fleets. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to gain full control over the device, leading to the exfiltration of sensitive corporate data, credentials, emails, and real-time surveillance via the device's microphone and camera.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Out-of-bounds write in libimagecodec.quram.so prior to SMR Apr-2025 Release 1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2025-21042)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2025-21042 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2025-21042 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 35.6%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2025-21042?
Primary impacted vendors include samsung across android, libimagecodec.quram.so. Scope summary: Samsung Android devices with security patch levels prior to SMR Apr-2025 Release 1, specifically affecting the libimagecodec.quram.so library
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2025-21042 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately apply the Samsung April 2025 Security Maintenance Release (SMR Apr-2025 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-2025-21042
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
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