CVE-2021-25498
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 · uneditedA possible buffer overflow vulnerability in maetd_eco_cb_mode of libSPenBase library of Samsung Notes prior to Samsung Notes version 4.3.02.61 allows arbitrary code execution.
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 · high confidenceA buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the maetd_eco_cb_mode function within the libSPenBase library used by Samsung Notes. The vulnerability allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution through a specially crafted input, likely via the S Pen functionality integrated into the Samsung Notes application.
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< 4.3.02.61CVSS 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
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 Samsung Notes application is installedCheck device for Samsung Notes app - typically found in app drawer under 'Samsung' folder or by searching 'Samsung Notes' in the application listAffected if Samsung Notes is not found on the device, the vulnerability does not apply
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Determine installed Samsung Notes versionNavigate to Samsung Notes app info screen: Apps > Samsung Notes > tap the three-dot menu > tap 'About Samsung Notes' to view the version numberAffected if Version number displayed is lower than 4.3.02.61 (e.g., 4.3.02.60 or earlier)
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Confirm libSPenBase library presenceCheck for the vulnerable library file libSPenBase on the device. This is typically located in the Samsung Notes app data directory (internal storage > Android > data > com.samsung.android.app.notes > files > lib) or the system library pathAffected if libSPenBase library file exists on the device and Samsung Notes version is below 4.3.02.61
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Verify S Pen integration is enabledConfirm the device has S Pen functionality and Samsung Notes S Pen features are active. On supported devices, the S Pen icon should appear in the Samsung Notes toolbar when the pen is detectedAffected if S Pen is actively used with Samsung Notes and the app version is below 4.3.02.61
Device is affected if Samsung Notes is installed with version lower than 4.3.02.61 and the libSPenBase library is present, especially when S Pen functionality is utilized with the application.
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 · scoped4.3.02.61
Update Samsung Notes to version 4.3.02.61 or later to receive the patch for this buffer overflow vulnerability.
Samsung Notes version 4.3.02.61
- Open the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store on your Samsung device
- Search for 'Samsung Notes'
- Tap Update to install version 4.3.02.61 or later
- Alternatively, navigate to Settings > Apps > Samsung Notes > Update (if auto-update is available)
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation2.0 h
- Testing2.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2021-25498 — 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-2021-25498 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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