Samsung
Multiple Products
An issue was discovered in L2 in Samsung Mobile Processor, Wearable Processor, and Modem Exynos 9820, 9825, 980, 990, 850, 1080, 2100, 1280, 2200, 133...
2025-10-20
Description
An issue was discovered in L2 in Samsung Mobile Processor, Wearable Processor, and Modem Exynos 9820, 9825, 980, 990, 850, 1080, 2100, 1280, 2200, 1330, 1380, 1480, 9110, W920, W930, Modem 5123, and Modem 5300
AI Analyst Comment
Remediation
Apply vendor security updates immediately. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Executive Summary:
A critical remote code execution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-27034, exists in the cellular communication components of multiple mobile products. This flaw can be exploited remotely by an attacker without any user interaction, potentially allowing them to take full control of an affected device, intercept communications, or cause a permanent denial of service. Due to its critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability poses a severe risk to organizational data security and operational continuity.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2025-27034
Affected Software: Mobile device baseband or modem firmware affecting multiple downstream products.
Affected Versions: See vendor advisory for specific affected versions
Vulnerability: This vulnerability is a memory corruption flaw that occurs within the cellular modem's firmware. It is triggered when a device processes a malformed list of failed Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) as part of the Steering of Roaming (SOR) protocol. An attacker can exploit this by setting up a rogue base station (cell tower) that broadcasts a specially crafted SOR message to nearby vulnerable devices. When the device attempts to process this malicious message, the memory corruption is triggered, which can be leveraged by the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device's baseband processor, a highly privileged and isolated component.
Business Impact
The exploitation of this vulnerability would have a critical business impact, reflected by its CVSS score of 9.8. A successful attack could lead to the complete compromise of corporate mobile devices, resulting in the theft of sensitive data, including emails, contacts, and confidential documents. Attackers could also perform espionage by intercepting calls and text messages or tracking the device's location. Furthermore, the vulnerability could be used to cause a widespread denial-of-service, rendering the organization's mobile fleet inoperable and disrupting critical business communications. This poses a significant risk of financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties related to data breaches.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: Organizations must immediately identify all affected mobile devices and deploy the security patches provided by the relevant hardware or device manufacturers. Patching should be prioritized for devices used by executives, system administrators, and employees with access to sensitive corporate data. In parallel, security teams must actively monitor for any signs of exploitation by reviewing network and device logs for anomalous behavior.
Proactive Monitoring: Security teams should monitor Mobile Device Management (MDM) logs for unexpected device crashes, reboots, or policy violations. Network monitoring should focus on identifying unusual cellular roaming activity or connections to un-trusted cell towers, if such visibility is available. Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solutions should be configured to detect signs of baseband compromise or anomalous network traffic originating from mobile devices.
Compensating Controls: If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should implement compensating controls to reduce the attack surface. This includes using MDM policies to disable cellular roaming for all devices, especially during international travel. Encourage employees to prioritize trusted Wi-Fi networks and use Wi-Fi calling features to minimize reliance on the cellular radio for communication.
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: false
Analyst Notes: As of September 24, 2025, there is no known public proof-of-concept exploit code for this vulnerability. However, given the critical severity (9.8) and the fact that it can be exploited remotely over-the-air, it is highly likely that sophisticated threat actors are actively researching and developing private exploits. Vulnerabilities of this nature in baseband processors are high-value targets for nation-state actors for intelligence gathering and espionage.
Analyst Recommendation
This vulnerability represents a critical and immediate threat to the organization. The ability for a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute code on the baseband processor without user interaction is a worst-case scenario for mobile device security. We recommend that all affected devices be patched on an emergency basis. While CVE-2025-27034 is not currently on the CISA KEV list, its characteristics warrant treating it with the highest priority. If patching is delayed for any reason, the compensating controls listed above should be implemented immediately to mitigate risk.