CVE-2025-62817 Overview
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability has been discovered in multiple Samsung Exynos mobile processors. The vulnerability exists in the __pilot_parsing_ncp() function where improper handling of session->ncp_hdr_buf can lead to a denial of service condition. This firmware-level vulnerability affects a wide range of Samsung Exynos chipsets used in mobile devices, potentially impacting millions of smartphones and tablets worldwide.
Critical Impact
Attackers can remotely trigger a denial of service condition on affected Samsung devices by exploiting the NULL pointer dereference in the Exynos processor firmware, causing device crashes or instability without requiring user interaction or authentication.
Affected Products
- Samsung Exynos 1280 and Exynos 1280 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 1380 and Exynos 1380 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 1480 and Exynos 1480 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 1580 and Exynos 1580 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 2200 and Exynos 2200 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 2400 and Exynos 2400 Firmware
- Samsung Exynos 2500 and Exynos 2500 Firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-03 - CVE-2025-62817 published to NVD
- 2026-03-04 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-62817
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) and affects the firmware component of Samsung Exynos mobile processors. The flaw occurs in the __pilot_parsing_ncp() function, which is responsible for parsing NCP (Network Control Protocol) headers. When processing malformed or crafted input, the function fails to properly validate that session->ncp_hdr_buf contains a valid pointer before dereferencing it.
The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over a network without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices that are constantly connected to various networks. Successful exploitation results in a complete denial of service, causing the affected device to crash or become unresponsive.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and missing NULL pointer checks in the __pilot_parsing_ncp() function. The code assumes that session->ncp_hdr_buf will always contain a valid memory address when the function is called, but under certain conditions, this buffer pointer may be NULL. When the function attempts to dereference this NULL pointer, it triggers a processor exception that results in a denial of service.
This is a classic example of a memory safety issue in firmware code where defensive programming practices, such as validating pointer values before use, were not consistently applied.
Attack Vector
The attack can be conducted remotely over a network connection. An attacker can send specially crafted network packets that trigger the vulnerable code path in the Exynos processor's firmware. The attack does not require any authentication or user interaction, allowing for completely unauthenticated remote exploitation.
The attack sequence involves:
- Establishing a network connection to a device with a vulnerable Exynos processor
- Sending malformed NCP-related data that causes session->ncp_hdr_buf to be NULL
- Triggering the __pilot_parsing_ncp() function to process the malformed data
- The NULL pointer dereference causes the processor to crash, resulting in denial of service
Due to the nature of this being a firmware-level vulnerability, no verified exploit code is publicly available. Technical details about the specific exploitation mechanism can be found in the Samsung Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62817
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected device crashes or reboots without user interaction
- System logs indicating kernel panics or processor exceptions related to memory access violations
- Network traffic patterns showing unusual NCP-related packet sequences
- Device becoming unresponsive when connected to untrusted networks
Detection Strategies
- Monitor device stability logs for patterns of repeated crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts
- Implement network traffic analysis to detect anomalous packet patterns targeting mobile devices
- Deploy mobile device management (MDM) solutions to track device health and identify affected devices
- Use SentinelOne Mobile Threat Defense to detect and alert on suspicious network activity targeting Exynos devices
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on mobile device management platforms to capture crash events
- Configure network monitoring to flag unusual traffic patterns to mobile device endpoints
- Implement anomaly detection for device stability metrics across the enterprise mobile fleet
- Review Samsung security bulletins regularly for firmware update availability
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62817
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all devices in your environment using affected Samsung Exynos processors (1280, 2200, 1380, 1480, 2400, 1580, 2500)
- Prioritize firmware updates for devices that are exposed to untrusted networks
- Consider network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable devices until patches are applied
- Enable any available firmware integrity monitoring features
Patch Information
Samsung has acknowledged this vulnerability and published security guidance. Organizations should apply firmware updates as soon as they become available through Samsung's update channels.
For detailed patch information, refer to:
Workarounds
- Limit device connectivity to trusted networks only until firmware patches are available
- Enable automatic firmware updates on all affected Samsung devices
- Deploy network-level protections to filter potentially malicious traffic
- Consider using VPN connections for devices on untrusted networks to add an additional layer of protection
For enterprise environments, ensure mobile device policies enforce timely security updates:
# Example MDM policy configuration for Samsung devices
# Force security update checks
adb shell settings put global software_update_policy 1
# Enable automatic security patches
adb shell settings put secure auto_system_updates 2
# Verify current firmware version
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
