Samsung Mobile Breach Incident Score: Analysis & Impact (SAM1862118110825)

In this Rankiteo incident briefing, we review the Samsung Mobile breach identified under incident ID SAM1862118110825.

The analysis begins with a detailed overview of Samsung Mobile's information like the linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samsungmobile, the number of followers: 647859, the industry type: Consumer Electronics and the number of employees: 18959 employees

After the initial compromise, the video explains how Rankiteo's incident engine converts technical details into a normalized incident score. The incident score before the incident was 733 and after the incident was 730 with a difference of -3 which is could be a good indicator of the severity and impact of the incident.

In the next step of the video, we will analyze in more details the incident and the impact it had on Samsung Mobile and their customers.

Samsung Electronics recently reported "LANDFALL Android Spyware Campaign Exploiting Samsung Zero-Day (CVE-2025-21042)", a noteworthy cybersecurity incident.

Cybersecurity researchers at Unit 42 uncovered a sophisticated Android spyware campaign, dubbed LANDFALL, which exploited a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042) in Samsung Galaxy devices.

The disruption is felt across the environment, affecting Samsung Galaxy S22/S23/S24, Z Fold4 and Z Flip4, and exposing microphone recordings, location data and call logs.

In response, teams activated the incident response plan, moved swiftly to contain the threat with measures like Samsung security patches (April 2025, September 2025) and Palo Alto Networks detection updates (Advanced WildFire, URL Filtering, DNS Security, Threat Prevention), and began remediation that includes device security updates and malware signature updates, and stakeholders are being briefed through public advisory via Unit 42 report and media coverage.

The case underscores how ongoing (tracked as CL-UNK-1054 by Unit 42), teams are taking away lessons such as Zero-day vulnerabilities in image processing libraries are increasingly weaponized across mobile platforms (similar iOS exploits in 2025), Commercial spyware actors leverage ephemeral infrastructure (e.g., non-standard TCP ports) and modular architectures to evade detection and Supply chain risks extend to messaging platforms (WhatsApp) used as delivery mechanisms, even without platform vulnerabilities, and recommending next steps like Apply Samsung security patches promptly (April 2025 or later), Monitor for suspicious DNG/JPPEG files received via messaging apps and Deploy advanced threat detection tools (e.g., Palo Alto Networks’ WildFire), with advisories going out to stakeholders covering Palo Alto Networks customers notified via product updates.

Finally, we try to match the incident with the MITRE ATT&CK framework to see if there is any correlation between the incident and the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

The MITRE ATT&CK framework is a knowledge base of techniques and sub-techniques that are used to describe the tactics and procedures of cyber adversaries. It is a powerful tool for understanding the threat landscape and for developing effective defense strategies.

Rankiteo's analysis has identified several MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques associated with this incident, each with varying levels of confidence based on available evidence. Under the Initial Access tactic, the analysis identified Phishing: Spearphishing Link (T1566.002) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating malicious DNG image files sent through WhatsApp and Supply Chain Compromise: Compromise Software Dependencies (T1195.002) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating cVE-2025-21042 (Samsung image processing library). Under the Execution tactic, the analysis identified User Execution: Malicious File (T1204.002) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating maliciously crafted DNG image files. Under the Persistence tactic, the analysis identified Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: SELinux Policy Modification (T1548.003) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating leveraged SELinux manipulation for persistence. Under the Privilege Escalation tactic, the analysis identified Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042) in Samsung’s image processing library. Under the Defense Evasion tactic, the analysis identified Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (T1562.001) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating sELinux manipulation for persistence and evasion, Obfuscated Files or Information: Indicator Removal from Tools (T1027.005) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating anti-forensic techniques, and Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading (T1574.002) with moderate to high confidence (75%), supported by evidence indicating modular design suggests potential for expanded payloads. Under the Credential Access tactic, the analysis identified Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers (T1555.003) with moderate to high confidence (80%), supported by evidence indicating extraction of contacts, SMS messages, and photos (implies access to stored credentials). Under the Collection tactic, the analysis identified Audio Capture (T1123) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating enabled microphone recording, Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic (T1059.005) with moderate to high confidence (70%), supported by evidence indicating modular design (implies scripting for data collection), and Data from Local System (T1005) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating extraction of photos, contacts, SMS messages, call logs, location data. Under the Command and Control tactic, the analysis identified Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols (T1071.001) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating persistent C2 communication via HTTPS/ephemeral ports and Encrypted Channel: Symmetric Cryptography (T1573.001) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating encrypted C2 communication. Under the Exfiltration tactic, the analysis identified Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Asymmetric Encrypted Channel (T1048.002) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating data exfiltration via encrypted C2, microphone recordings, location data, call logs and Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041) with high confidence (95%), supported by evidence indicating extraction of photos, contacts, SMS messages to C2. Under the Impact tactic, the analysis identified Data Encrypted for Impact (T1486) with lower confidence (10%), supported by evidence indicating no direct evidence, but SELinux manipulation could imply data locking (low confidence) and System Owner/User Discovery (T1533) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating targeted intrusions in the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Morocco) implies reconnaissance. These correlations help security teams understand the attack chain and develop appropriate defensive measures based on the observed tactics and techniques.