Historical catalog analysis: CISA added this entry on November 10, 2025. The entry reflects catalog information retrieved on August 31, 2026, not a snapshot archived on the inclusion date. Check current vendor guidance before acting.
What the vulnerability is
CVE-2025-21042 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) located in the libimagecodec.quram.so component of Samsung mobile devices. This flaw could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected device.
Exposure and applicability
This vulnerability is particularly relevant for U.S. healthcare providers, health plans, and business associates who utilize Samsung mobile devices for clinical communications, telehealth, or accessing electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Because these devices often serve as endpoints for secure messaging and EHR access, a remote code execution flaw could potentially be used to compromise the device and the sensitive data residing on it.
Organizations should determine if their mobile fleet includes affected Samsung models by referencing vendor-specific security updates. While CISA has added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, the specific versions of devices impacted are defined by Samsung’s technical documentation.
Remediation priorities
Based on our analysis, healthcare security leaders should prioritize the following actions to reduce the likelihood of exploitation:
- Inventory and Patching: Identify all corporate-owned and BYOD Samsung devices used for clinical purposes. Prioritize the application of vendor-supplied security updates that address CVE-2025-21042. This is a primary control intended to prevent initial compromise.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) Enforcement: Use MDM policies to enforce minimum OS version requirements and ensure that security patches are applied within a defined window. This reduces the window of exposure across the fleet.
- Endpoint Isolation: For devices where immediate patching is not feasible, evaluate the use of managed work profiles to isolate ePHI-handling applications from the rest of the device’s operating system. This is a damage-limitation control intended to reduce the impact if the underlying OS is compromised.
How to validate remediation
To verify that exposure has been reduced, security teams should:
* Verify Build Versions: Use MDM reporting or manual audits to confirm that devices are running the specific firmware version identified by Samsung as containing the fix for CVE-2025-21042.
* Audit Patch Compliance: Review compliance logs to ensure no active clinical devices remain on vulnerable versions.
Note: A version check confirms a patch is present but does not guarantee absolute security against all future or unknown threats.
Limits and open questions
It remains unknown whether this vulnerability has been utilized in ransomware campaigns. Additionally, the specific attack vector—such as how a remote attacker triggers the out-of-bounds write via libimagecodec.quram.so—is not detailed in the provided source. Organizations should be aware that patching addresses this specific flaw but does not eliminate residual risks associated with other unpatched vulnerabilities or social engineering.
Source and editorial note
CVE-2025-21042: Samsung Mobile Devices Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability · Source date: November 10, 2025 · Retrieved August 31, 2026.
Material facts are tied to the cited primary source. Recommendations are independent defensive analysis unless attributed to the source. Confirm consequential decisions against current authoritative guidance.
Archive date: November 13, 2025. The displayed post date is assigned three days after the source date to organize this retrospective archive; it does not mean this site published the analysis then. First published by this site: September 27, 2026 at 00:48 UTC.
Request a healthcare security assessment
Turn healthcare security intelligence into action.
Discuss your environment, priorities, and the evidence needed to validate safeguards.
Request a healthcare assessment ↗