Samsung Mobile Breach Incident Score: Analysis & Impact (SAM5892158110825)

In this Rankiteo incident briefing, we review the Samsung Mobile breach identified under incident ID SAM5892158110825.

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 728 and after the incident was 724 with a difference of -4 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.

On 01 April 2025, Samsung Electronics disclosed Espionage, Zero-Day Exploit and Spyware issues under the banner "LANDFALL Android Spyware Campaign Exploiting Samsung Zero-Day (CVE-2025-21042)".

Security researchers at Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 uncovered a sophisticated espionage campaign leveraging a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042, CVSS 8.8) in Samsung Galaxy Android devices.

The disruption is felt across the environment, affecting Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S23 and Samsung Galaxy S24, and exposing Microphone Audio/Call Recordings, Device Location and Photos.

In response, teams activated the incident response plan, moved swiftly to contain the threat with measures like Patch released by Samsung (April 2025), and began remediation that includes Device updates and Monitoring for anomalous behaviors (e.g., C2 connections, suspicious image files), and stakeholders are being briefed through Public disclosure by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 and Security advisories.

The case underscores how Ongoing (attribution to Stealth Falcon/FruityArmor is tentative; initial vector unconfirmed), teams are taking away lessons such as Image-processing libraries (e.g., DNG/TIFF) are emerging as critical attack surfaces in mobile devices, Messaging apps and 'image' files can serve as stealthy initial vectors for advanced malware and Modular spyware architectures (loader + privilege escalation + C2) resemble commercial spyware, suggesting targeted espionage motives, and recommending next steps like Ensure all Samsung devices are updated to the latest firmware (post-April 2025 patch), Treat mobile devices as potential espionage targets, especially in high-risk regions or sectors and Monitor for anomalous behaviors: unexpected network connections (C2 indicators), suspicious image files via chat apps, unauthorized microphone/camera usage, with advisories going out to stakeholders covering Apply patches immediately, Monitor for indicators of compromise (IoCs) and Review mobile security policies.

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 (70%), with evidence including malformed DNG image files (disguised as WhatsApp transfers), and potential Zero-Click Exploit via messaging apps like WhatsApp and Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21042) in libimagecodec.quram.so, and remote code execution via malformed DNG image files. Under the Execution tactic, the analysis identified Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including out-of-bounds write defect in libimagecodec.quram.so allowed RCE, and malformed DNG image files deployed modular spyware (LANDFALL) and Command-Line Interface: JavaScript (T1059.007) with moderate confidence (60%), supported by evidence indicating modular spyware design (loader + privilege escalation + C2). Under the Persistence tactic, the analysis identified Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: SELinux (T1548.003) with high confidence (90%), with evidence including maintaining persistence via SELinux manipulation, and modified SELinux policy for persistence. Under the Privilege Escalation tactic, the analysis identified Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including cVE-2025-21042 (CVSS 8.8) out-of-bounds write in libimagecodec.quram.so, and modular spyware with privilege escalation. Under the Defense Evasion tactic, the analysis identified Obfuscated Files or Information (T1027) with moderate to high confidence (85%), with evidence including malformed DNG image files (embedded ZIP payloads), and disguised as WhatsApp transfers and Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (T1562.001) with moderate to high confidence (80%), supported by evidence indicating persistence via SELinux policy manipulation. Under the Credential Access tactic, the analysis identified Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers (T1555.003) with moderate to high confidence (70%), supported by evidence indicating harvesting SMS/contacts/files (implies credential theft from stored data). Under the Collection tactic, the analysis identified Audio Capture (T1123) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including recording audio/calls, and microphone Audio/Call Recordings compromised, Command-Line Interface: Visual Basic (T1059.005) with moderate confidence (50%), supported by evidence indicating modular spyware capabilities (generic, low confidence), Data from Local System: Location Data (T1602.001) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including tracking location, and device Location compromised, and Data from Local System (T1005) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including harvesting SMS/contacts/files/photos/call logs, and data exfiltration such as Photos, SMS, Contacts, Call Logs. Under the Command and Control tactic, the analysis identified Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols (T1071.001) with moderate to high confidence (85%), with evidence including modular spyware with C2 capabilities, and monitor for anomalous network connections (C2 indicators) and Ingress Tool Transfer (T1105) with moderate to high confidence (75%), supported by evidence indicating malformed DNG files with embedded ZIP payloads. Under the Exfiltration tactic, the analysis identified Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including data exfiltration such as Audio Recordings, Location Data, Photos, SMS, Files, Contacts, Call Logs, and surveillance capabilities enabled exfiltration and Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Unencrypted/Obfuscated Non-C2 Protocol (T1048.003) with moderate confidence (60%), supported by evidence indicating malformed DNG files may use non-standard exfiltration channels. Under the Impact tactic, the analysis identified Data Encrypted for Impact (T1486) with lower confidence (0%), Account Access Removal (T1531) with lower confidence (0%), and Resource Hijacking (T1496) with moderate to high confidence (70%), supported by evidence indicating recording audio/calls, tracking location, harvesting data (resource abuse for surveillance). These correlations help security teams understand the attack chain and develop appropriate defensive measures based on the observed tactics and techniques.