CVE-2025-20970: Bixby Vision Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-20970 Overview

CVE-2025-20970 is an improper access control vulnerability in Samsung's Bixby Vision application on Android devices. The flaw allows local attackers to access image files with Bixby Vision privileges, bypassing intended permission boundaries. The vulnerability affects Bixby Vision versions prior to 3.8.1 on Android 13, 3.8.3 on Android 14, and 3.8.21 on Android 15. Samsung addressed the issue in its May 2025 mobile security advisory.

Critical Impact
Local attackers can read image files using Bixby Vision's elevated privileges, potentially exposing sensitive user photos and screenshots stored on the device.

Affected Products

Samsung Bixby Vision prior to 3.8.1 on Android 13
Samsung Bixby Vision prior to 3.8.3 on Android 14
Samsung Bixby Vision prior to 3.8.21 on Android 15

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-07 - CVE-2025-20970 published to NVD
May 2025 - Samsung releases security patch via monthly mobile security advisory
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20970

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability originates in the Bixby Vision Android application, which is Samsung's visual search and image recognition service. Bixby Vision holds privileges to read image content on the device to support features like text extraction, product search, and translation. Improper access control in the affected versions permits other locally installed applications to leverage those privileges to reach image files they should not have direct access to.

This is categorized as an Improper Access Control issue [CWE-284]. Exploitation requires local access on the device but no user interaction and no prior privileges. The impact is limited to integrity of resources reachable through Bixby Vision, with no direct effect on device availability.

Root Cause

Bixby Vision exposes an interface or component that fails to validate whether the calling application has the required permissions to request image file operations. Because Bixby Vision itself is authorized to access image storage, requests routed through it inherit that authorization. The absence of a caller identity or permission check enables abuse by any co-resident application.

Attack Vector

A malicious application installed on the target device targets the exposed Bixby Vision interface to trigger image file access on behalf of the attacker. Because the attack vector is local, delivery typically relies on sideloaded APKs or apps distributed through untrusted stores. See the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for advisory-level detail.

// No verified public proof-of-concept is available.
// Refer to the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20970

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected inter-process communication from third-party applications targeting the com.samsung.android.visionintelligence package or related Bixby Vision components.
Newly installed applications requesting access to Bixby Vision endpoints shortly after installation.
Unusual image file access patterns originating from Bixby Vision on managed devices.

Detection Strategies

Enroll Samsung devices in a mobile device management (MDM) solution and audit installed Bixby Vision versions against the fixed baselines.
Monitor mobile threat defense telemetry for applications invoking Bixby Vision components outside of expected user workflows.
Review application inventory reports for sideloaded or non-Play Store applications on corporate devices.

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on Samsung Android devices running Bixby Vision versions below 3.8.1, 3.8.3, or 3.8.21 matching the corresponding Android major version.
Track patch level compliance against the Samsung May 2025 Security Maintenance Release across the fleet.
Log and review permission grants involving photo and media access on managed Samsung devices.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20970

Immediate Actions Required

Update Bixby Vision to version 3.8.1 or later on Android 13, 3.8.3 or later on Android 14, and 3.8.21 or later on Android 15.
Apply the Samsung May 2025 Security Maintenance Release through system updates on all affected Galaxy devices.
Audit corporate mobile fleets for outdated Bixby Vision installations and enforce update policies through MDM.

Patch Information

Samsung addressed CVE-2025-20970 in the May 2025 Samsung Mobile Security Maintenance Release. Updates are delivered through the Galaxy Store for Bixby Vision and through system firmware updates. Confirmation and version details are published in the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory.

Workarounds

Restrict installation of untrusted or sideloaded applications on Samsung Galaxy devices until patches are applied.
Disable Bixby Vision on devices that cannot be updated immediately, if the feature is not required for business use.
Enforce Google Play Protect and MDM-based application allowlisting to reduce the risk of a malicious local app exploiting the flaw.

bash

# Verify installed Bixby Vision version via ADB
adb shell dumpsys package com.samsung.android.visionintelligence | grep versionName