How severe is CVE-2023-21456?

CVE-2023-21456 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2023-21456 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (12th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-21456?

CVE-2023-21456 primarily affects Samsung Android. In total, 48 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-21456?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2023-21456 published?

CVE-2023-21456 was published on 2023-03-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-21456

CVE-2023-21456 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Samsung Android with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-22.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.0)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (12th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-22
Affected product: Samsung Android
Published: 2023-03-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Path traversal vulnerability in Galaxy Themes Service prior to SMR Mar-2023 Release 1 allows attacker to access arbitrary file with system uid.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-21456?: Path traversal vulnerability in Galaxy Themes Service prior to SMR Mar-2023 Release 1 allows attacker to access arbitrary file with system uid.
How severe is CVE-2023-21456?: CVE-2023-21456 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.0, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2023-21456 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (12th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-21456?: CVE-2023-21456 primarily affects Samsung Android. In total, 48 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-21456?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2023-21456 published?: CVE-2023-21456 was published on 2023-03-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2023&month=03

Affected products (48)

cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-apr-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-apr-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-aug-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-aug-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-dec-2020-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-dec-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-dec-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-feb-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-feb-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-feb-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jan-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jan-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jul-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jul-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jun-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-jun-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-mar-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-mar-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-may-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-may-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-nov-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-nov-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-oct-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-oct-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-sep-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:11.0:smr-sep-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-apr-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-aug-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-dec-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-dec-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-feb-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-feb-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-jan-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-jul-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-jun-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-mar-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-may-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:12.0:smr-nov-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*

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