CVE-2025-58481 Overview
CVE-2025-58481 is an improper access control vulnerability in the MPRemoteService component of Samsung MotionPhoto prior to version 4.1.51. The flaw allows a local attacker with low privileges to start a privileged service that should not be exposed to untrusted callers. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device. Samsung published the fix as part of its December 2025 mobile security maintenance release.
Critical Impact
A local attacker on a Samsung device can invoke a privileged service through MPRemoteService, enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized access to protected functionality.
Affected Products
- Samsung MotionPhoto versions prior to 4.1.51
- Samsung mobile devices with the vulnerable MotionPhoto application installed
- Android environments where MPRemoteService is exported without adequate caller validation
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-12-02 - CVE-2025-58481 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- December 2025 - Samsung publishes the fix in its monthly Mobile Security Update
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-58481
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in MPRemoteService, an Android service component exported by the Samsung MotionPhoto application. The service does not adequately verify the identity or privileges of callers before performing privileged operations. A local, unprivileged application on the same device can bind to the service and trigger functionality reserved for higher-privilege contexts.
Because exploitation requires local access and low privileges but no user interaction, malicious applications already installed on the device are the primary threat vector. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability of resources accessible through the privileged service path.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper access control on an exported Android service. MPRemoteService accepts inter-process communication (IPC) requests without enforcing the caller permission checks or signature-level restrictions required for the operations it exposes. NVD categorizes this issue under NVD-CWE-noinfo because Samsung's advisory does not publish a specific CWE mapping.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised application running locally on the target Samsung device. The attacker uses standard Android IPC mechanisms, such as bindService or startService with a crafted Intent, to reach MPRemoteService and invoke its privileged methods. No network access, no phishing, and no user interaction are required once the attacker's code executes on the device. Samsung does not describe the exploited methods in its advisory. See the Samsung Mobile Security Update for the vendor's summary.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-58481
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected applications binding to or invoking Samsung MotionPhoto components, in particular MPRemoteService
- MotionPhoto package versions earlier than 4.1.51 present on managed devices
- Newly installed third-party applications requesting or exercising IPC access to Samsung system apps
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed application versions across the mobile fleet and flag devices running MotionPhoto below 4.1.51
- Review Android logcat and mobile threat defense telemetry for repeated service-binding attempts against com.samsung.android.motionphoto components
- Correlate installation of unknown sideloaded APKs with subsequent privileged behavior on the same device
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enroll Samsung devices in a mobile device management (MDM) platform that reports installed app versions and patch level
- Alert on devices that remain below the December 2025 Samsung security maintenance release
- Monitor for privilege-escalation indicators on Android endpoints, such as unauthorized access to media, storage, or system settings
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-58481
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Samsung MotionPhoto to version 4.1.51 or later on all affected devices
- Apply the December 2025 Samsung mobile security maintenance release through system update
- Remove untrusted or sideloaded applications from Samsung devices used for sensitive workloads
- Enforce mobile application vetting through MDM policy to block unknown sources
Patch Information
Samsung addressed CVE-2025-58481 in MotionPhoto version 4.1.51, delivered as part of the December 2025 Samsung Mobile Security Update. Details and update guidance are available in the Samsung Mobile Security Update advisory. Devices should receive the fix through the standard Galaxy Store or system update channels.
Workarounds
- Restrict installation of third-party applications via MDM until the patch is deployed
- Disable or uninstall MotionPhoto on devices where the feature is not required, if permitted by the device configuration
- Apply Android work-profile separation to limit exposure of corporate data to unpatched consumer apps
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
