CVE-2026-21082 Overview
CVE-2026-21082 is a relative path traversal vulnerability [CWE-23] in Samsung Health prior to version 7.0.0. A local attacker can leverage improperly sanitized file path input to access sensitive information stored by the application. The flaw is scoped to the local Android device, meaning the adversary must have code execution or an installed application on the same handset. Samsung addressed the issue in its August 2026 mobile security advisory.
Critical Impact
A local attacker can traverse outside intended Samsung Health storage directories and read sensitive user health data without user interaction or elevated privileges.
Affected Products
- Samsung Health application versions prior to 7.0.0
- Samsung Android devices with the vulnerable Samsung Health package installed
- Users who installed Samsung Health from Galaxy Store or Google Play before the August 2026 update
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-10 - CVE-2026-21082 published to NVD
- 2026-08-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-21082
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of relative path sequences such as ../ in file path input handled by Samsung Health. Samsung Health stores user health records, activity logs, and related metadata within its private application sandbox on Android. When the application resolves an attacker-controlled path, it fails to canonicalize the input before performing file operations. This allows a local attacker to escape the intended directory and read files outside the expected scope. The impact is confined to confidentiality, with no integrity or availability effect indicated in the CVSS vector. Attack complexity is low, and no privileges or user interaction are required beyond local access to the device.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of path canonicalization and allow-listing before file access, classified as CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal). Input containing .. segments is treated as a valid path component rather than a traversal attempt.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access to the affected Android device. A malicious co-resident application, an attacker with shell access, or a component reachable via an exported interface can supply a crafted path. The application then reads data from a location outside the Samsung Health private directory and returns it to the attacker's context.
No public proof-of-concept is available. See the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-21082
Indicators of Compromise
- Samsung Health package versions below 7.0.0 present on managed Android devices
- File access attempts by the Samsung Health process referencing paths containing ../ sequences
- Unexpected reads of files outside the Samsung Health application sandbox
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Samsung Health versions across mobile fleets using MDM or UEM reporting and flag any build earlier than 7.0.0.
- Review Android logs for IPC calls to Samsung Health components with path parameters containing traversal sequences.
- Correlate suspicious local application installs with subsequent Samsung Health activity during triage.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable mobile threat defense telemetry to surface sideloaded or newly installed applications on devices running Samsung Health.
- Track Samsung Health update compliance as a security KPI within enterprise mobility dashboards.
- Alert when devices remain on outdated Samsung Health builds after the August 2026 advisory publication date.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-21082
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Samsung Health to version 7.0.0 or later on all affected Android devices via Galaxy Store or Google Play.
- Identify devices running vulnerable versions through MDM reporting and prioritize remediation.
- Restrict installation of untrusted third-party applications that could serve as the local attacker vector.
Patch Information
Samsung released the fix in Samsung Health 7.0.0, as documented in the Samsung Mobile Security Advisory for August 2026. The update addresses the relative path traversal by enforcing proper path validation before file access.
Workarounds
- Uninstall Samsung Health on devices that cannot receive the 7.0.0 update until patching is possible.
- Enforce enterprise policies that block sideloading of applications from unknown sources to reduce local attack surface.
- Limit which applications can interact with Samsung Health via Android permission controls and MDM configuration profiles.
# Verify installed Samsung Health version on a connected Android device
adb shell dumpsys package com.sec.android.app.shealth | grep versionName
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
