CVE-2021-25383
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedAn improper input validation vulnerability in scmn_mfal_read() in libsapeextractor library prior to SMR MAY-2021 Release 1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on mediaextractor process.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceAn improper input validation vulnerability exists in the scmn_mfal_read() function within the libsapextractor library prior to SMR MAY-2021 Release 1. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the mediaextractor process due to insufficient validation of input data.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data= 8.1= 9.0= 10.0= 11.0CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Verify Android OS versionCheck the device settings under Settings > About Phone > Android version, or run 'getprop ro.build.version.release' via ADB shellAffected if The version is exactly 8.1, 9.0, 10.0, or 11.0
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Locate libsapextractor librarySearch for libsapextractor on the device using 'find /system -name libsapextractor*' or similar file listing via ADBAffected if The library file exists on the device
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Confirm mediaextractor component is activeCheck running processes or loaded modules for mediaextractor using 'ps -A | grep mediaextractor' or inspect /system/lib/ and /system/lib64/ directories for mediaextractor related filesAffected if The mediaextractor process or related library modules are present and in use
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Compare library version to fixed releaseIf libsapextractor is found, attempt to extract version metadata from the file (strings, file properties) or check the vendor/security patch level via 'getprop ro.build.version.security_patch'Affected if The security patch level is earlier than SMR MAY-2021 Release 1 or the library version cannot be determined to be post-fix
A defender is affected if the Android device runs version 8.1, 9.0, 10.0, or 11.0 and contains the vulnerable libsapextractor library with mediaextractor components present, and the security patch level predates the May 2021 update.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedApply the SMR MAY-2021 Release 1 patch or later to address the input validation flaw in libsapextractor; verify all media processing components are updated and restart affected services.
SMR MAY-2021 Release 1 or later
- Navigate to Settings on the Samsung device
- Go to Software Update or System Updates menu
- Tap on Check for Updates or Download updates manually
- Locate and install the SMR MAY-2021 Release 1 or later security update
- Restart the device if prompted to complete the installation
- Verify the update was applied by checking the software version in Settings > About Phone
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $6,176.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2021-25383 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2021-25383 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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