CVE-2026-20988 Missing authorization in Samsung Mobile Devices
A local attacker can launch arbitrary activities with Settings privileges via improper intent verification in Samsung Android Settings, requiring user interaction.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-20988?
CVE-2026-20988 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Samsung Android, published on 16 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Improper verification of intent by broadcast receiver in Settings prior to SMR Mar-2026 Release 1 allows local attacker to launch arbitrary activity with Settings privilege. User interaction is required for triggering this vulnerability.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20988?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Samsung Android.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20988?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20988 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2026-20988 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20988 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Samsung Android
Sources
Also known as GHSA-49cf-jv8p-hqj3.