How severe is CVE-2023-21496?

CVE-2023-21496 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over physical access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2023-21496 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (7th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-21496?

CVE-2023-21496 primarily affects Samsung Android. In total, 50 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-21496?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2023-21496 published?

CVE-2023-21496 was published on 2023-05-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-21496

CVE-2023-21496 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Samsung Android with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.1. 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-489.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.1)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (7th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-489
Affected product: Samsung Android
Published: 2023-05-04
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Active Debug Code vulnerability in ActivityManagerService prior to SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows attacker to use debug function via setting debug level.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-21496?: Active Debug Code vulnerability in ActivityManagerService prior to SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows attacker to use debug function via setting debug level.
How severe is CVE-2023-21496?: CVE-2023-21496 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over physical access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2023-21496 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (7th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-21496?: CVE-2023-21496 primarily affects Samsung Android. In total, 50 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-21496?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-21496 published?: CVE-2023-21496 was published on 2023-05-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2023&month=05

Affected products (50)

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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