CVE-2025-52909 is a critical vulnerability affecting the Wi-Fi driver in several Samsung Mobile and Wearable Processors, including Exynos 980, 850, 1280, 1330, 1380, 1480, 1580, W920, W930, and W1000. The vulnerability arises from incorrect handling of the NL80211 vendor command, which can lead to a buffer overflow through a specific ioctl message.
With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability is classified as critical. The high severity rating indicates that the potential for exploitation is significant, posing substantial risks to organizations utilizing these processors. Attack vectors are network-based, requiring no privileges or user interaction, making this a severe threat.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access, data integrity issues, and service disruptions due to the buffer overflow. Given the widespread use of the affected processors in various devices, the urgency for defenders to address this vulnerability cannot be overstated. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there are no known exploits or public proof of concepts available for CVE-2025-52909. However, the critical nature of this vulnerability necessitates proactive measures to mitigate risks.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows for a buffer overflow in the Wi-Fi driver due to incorrect handling of the NL80211 vendor command. The affected components include various Samsung Exynos processors such as Exynos 980, 850, 1280, 1330, 1380, 1480, 1580, W920, W930, and W1000. The CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the critical severity level, indicating a high potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The vulnerability was published on April 7, 2026, and has been classified under CWE-120. Organizations using affected products should be aware of the critical nature of this issue and take appropriate actions.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-52909 lies in the incorrect handling of the NL80211 vendor command in the Wi-Fi driver. The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction. The potential impacts are severe: confidentiality, integrity, and availability can all be compromised, leading to significant operational risks.
Organizations should take this vulnerability seriously, as exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data and critical system functions. Continuous monitoring and vulnerability management practices are essential in mitigating such risks.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-52909 is substantial, especially given the critical CVSS score of 9.8. Organizations utilizing affected Samsung Exynos processors face potential exploitation risks that could compromise their systems' confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The blast radius of this vulnerability could be extensive, affecting multiple devices across various environments. Given the potential for widespread impact, organizations must prioritize this vulnerability in their remediation efforts.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Samsung Exynos firmware are affected by this vulnerability: Exynos 980, 850, 1280, 1330, 1380, 1480, 1580, W920, W930, and W1000. Organizations should ensure that they are using updated firmware versions to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest firmware updates provided by Samsung. Regularly checking for updates and implementing them promptly is crucial for maintaining the security of devices utilizing affected Exynos processors.
In cases where firmware updates are not immediately available, organizations should consider implementing additional network controls to limit exposure to potential exploitation.
For further guidance on effective security practices, organizations can refer to resources such as the penetration testing services offered by AppSecure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual activity related to network communications involving the affected devices. Additionally, behavioral anomalies in device performance that could indicate exploitation attempts should be tracked.
Implementing network signatures that can detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability will also be beneficial in enhancing security posture.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-52909 highlights the ongoing need for vigilant security practices in the semiconductor and mobile device industries. As vulnerabilities in foundational components can lead to widespread impacts, organizations must adopt proactive measures to safeguard their systems.
Security teams are encouraged to stay informed about trends in vulnerabilities and to regularly update their risk management strategies. For comprehensive insights into vulnerability management, organizations can explore our blog on vulnerability management programs and best practices.
Also, consider our insights on penetration testing methodology to enhance your security framework.
Finally, organizations should review our analysis of security testing best practices to ensure robust defenses against potential threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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