CVE-2026-21037: Samsung Members Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2026-21037 Overview

CVE-2026-21037 is an improper input validation vulnerability in the Samsung Members application on Android devices. Versions prior to 5.8.01.5 fail to validate input parameters used to dispatch URLs and activities. A local attacker can abuse this flaw to load arbitrary URLs and launch arbitrary activities with the privileges of the Samsung Members app. The issue is tracked in the June 2026 Samsung Mobile Security Advisory and requires local access with low privileges to exploit.

Critical Impact
Local attackers can launch arbitrary activities and load arbitrary URLs under the Samsung Members app context, enabling phishing redirection and abuse of app-privileged components.

Affected Products

Samsung Members application on Android
Samsung Members versions prior to 5.8.01.5
Samsung Galaxy devices with the vulnerable Samsung Members app installed

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-05 - CVE-2026-21037 published to NVD
2026-06-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-21037

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an [Improper Input Validation] flaw in Samsung Members. The application accepts input that controls which URL is loaded and which Android activity is launched. Because the input is not properly validated, a local attacker can supply crafted values that direct the app to arbitrary destinations.

Exploitation occurs in the local attack vector with low privileges and no user interaction required. The attacker must already have the ability to send intents or interact with the Samsung Members app on the device, typically through a co-resident malicious application. The resulting actions execute with the Samsung Members app's privilege, which includes any permissions Samsung grants the preinstalled component.

The practical effect is twofold. First, the attacker can force the app to load arbitrary URLs in its in-app browser context, enabling phishing scenarios that appear to originate from a trusted Samsung application. Second, the attacker can trigger the launch of arbitrary activities, including non-exported or internal activities reachable through the app's privileged context.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of intent extras and URL parameters consumed by Samsung Members. Trusted-app components dispatch these inputs without verifying their origin, target, or scheme constraints, allowing redirection to attacker-controlled destinations.

Attack Vector

A local malicious application on the same device crafts an intent targeting Samsung Members. The intent carries a URL or activity reference that the app processes without validation. Samsung Members then loads the URL or launches the referenced activity using its own identity. No additional user interaction is required.

Verified proof-of-concept code is not available in public sources. See the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-21037

Indicators of Compromise

Installed Samsung Members application reporting a version older than 5.8.01.5
Unexpected in-app browser sessions inside Samsung Members navigating to non-Samsung domains
Locally installed third-party applications issuing intents targeting Samsung Members components
Launches of internal Samsung Members activities initiated by third-party packages in device logs

Detection Strategies

Inventory Android endpoints to identify Samsung Members builds below 5.8.01.5 using mobile device management tooling.
Inspect Android logcat and intent traces on managed devices for cross-application intent flows targeting Samsung Members.
Review installed applications for unsigned or sideloaded packages that interact with preinstalled Samsung components.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable mobile threat defense telemetry on Galaxy fleet devices to capture suspicious intent dispatch behavior.
Track Samsung security bulletin advisories monthly and correlate device firmware and app versions against published fixes.
Alert on installations of unknown applications on devices that hold corporate credentials or access enterprise resources.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-21037

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Samsung Members application to version 5.8.01.5 or later through the Galaxy Store on all affected Android devices.
Enforce a mobile device management policy that requires current Samsung Members builds for devices accessing corporate resources.
Restrict installation of untrusted third-party applications on Galaxy devices to reduce local attacker presence.

Patch Information

Samsung addressed CVE-2026-21037 in Samsung Members version 5.8.01.5. The fix is distributed through the Galaxy Store and documented in the June 2026 Samsung Mobile Security Advisory. Refer to the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for the official vendor notice.

Workarounds

Disable the Samsung Members application on devices that cannot receive the update until patching is possible.
Prohibit sideloading of unverified Android packages through enterprise mobility management configuration profiles.
Limit physical and remote local access to Galaxy devices that store sensitive enterprise data.

bash

# Verify Samsung Members version on a connected Android device via adb
adb shell dumpsys package com.samsung.android.voc | grep versionName