CVE-2025-20897 represents a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Samsung's Secure Folder. This vulnerability allows local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the Secure Folder. The affected versions include Secure Folder prior to version 1.9.20.50 on Android 14, 1.8.11.0 on Android 13, and 1.7.04.0 on Android 12. With a CVSS score of 6.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations that utilize these versions.
The improper access control inherent in this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data exposure, which is particularly concerning in environments handling sensitive or personal information. Organizations must be aware of the urgency associated with this vulnerability, as it could lead to serious data breaches if not addressed.
The vulnerability was published on February 4, 2025, and is currently listed as deferred. While there is no public exploit confirmed at this time, organizations should be proactive in applying patches as they become available to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with security best practices.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2025-20897 vulnerability is classified as improper access control, allowing local attackers to access data in the Secure Folder. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.8 indicates a medium severity, with high confidentiality impact and low integrity impact. The affected versions are Secure Folder prior to version 1.9.20.50 in Android 14, 1.8.11.0 in Android 13, and 1.7.04.0 in Android 12.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-20897 is improper access control in the Secure Folder feature. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability locally, with low attack complexity and no required privileges or user interaction. The potential impact includes high confidentiality exposure due to unauthorized data access, while integrity and availability impacts are low and none, respectively.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-20897 involves the potential exposure of sensitive data stored in Secure Folder. Organizations that rely on this feature for data protection must assess the impact of unauthorized access to confidential information. The potential blast radius includes all users of the affected Secure Folder versions, increasing the urgency for organizations to schedule remediation.
Given the CVSS score of 6.8, organizations should address this vulnerability as part of their priority patch cycle. The absence of known exploits does not negate the importance of swift corrective action.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Secure Folder include versions prior to 1.9.20.50 in Android 14, 1.8.11.0 in Android 13, and 1.7.04.0 in Android 12. Organizations must ensure they upgrade to the latest versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate CVE-2025-20897, organizations should apply the latest updates to Secure Folder as soon as possible. The recommended version is 1.9.20.50 for Android 14, 1.8.11.0 for Android 13, and 1.7.04.0 for Android 12. If immediate patching is not possible, organizations should implement configuration hardening strategies and ensure that access controls are in place to limit unauthorized local access.
Organizations may also benefit from utilizing penetration testing services to identify similar weaknesses in their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized access attempts to Secure Folder. Behavioral anomalies indicating local access attempts should also be tracked. Implementing network controls to restrict local access can further enhance security.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-20897 lies in its reflection of ongoing challenges in mobile security, particularly concerning access controls. Security teams must prioritize understanding how similar vulnerabilities can be exploited and look for patterns in access control failures.
One strategic takeaway is to implement rigorous testing and validation processes for access controls. Organizations can also enhance their security frameworks through vulnerability management programs that proactively identify and remediate such vulnerabilities.
Additionally, organizations should consider adopting penetration testing methodology as part of their security strategy to uncover hidden risks in their applications.
Finally, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of security trends and vulnerability exposure will help organizations stay ahead of potential threats. They can achieve this through continuous monitoring and engagement with threat intelligence resources.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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