CVE-2026-20978

CVE-2026-20978 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.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.1)
• CVSS v4: 5.8
• EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (2nd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-5398
• Affected product: Samsung Android
• Published: 2026-02-04
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Improper authorization in KnoxGuardManager prior to SMR Feb-2026 Release 1 allows local attackers to bypass the persistence configuration of the application.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-20978?

Improper authorization in KnoxGuardManager prior to SMR Feb-2026 Release 1 allows local attackers to bypass the persistence configuration of the application.

How severe is CVE-2026-20978?

CVE-2026-20978 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability low.

Is CVE-2026-20978 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (2nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-20978?

CVE-2026-20978 primarily affects Samsung Android. In total, 125 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-20978?

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

Does CVE-2026-20978 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-20978 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-5398.

When was CVE-2026-20978 published?

CVE-2026-20978 was published on 2026-02-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2026&month=02

Affected products (125)

• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-apr-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-apr-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-apr-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-apr-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-aug-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-aug-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-aug-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-aug-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-dec-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-dec-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-dec-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-dec-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-dec-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-feb-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-feb-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-feb-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-feb-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jan-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jan-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jan-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jan-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jan-2026-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jul-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jul-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jul-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jul-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jun-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jun-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jun-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-jun-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-mar-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-mar-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-mar-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-mar-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-may-2022-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-may-2023-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-may-2024-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-may-2025-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:samsung:android:13.0:smr-nov-2021-r1:*:*:*:*:*:*

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