CVE-2026-21026: Samsung SpriteWallpaper Local Information Disclosure

Technical summary

CVE-2026-21026 is a local information disclosure vulnerability affecting Samsung's SpriteWallpaper application. The root cause is improper export of Android application components, which exposes sensitive data to local attackers operating with user-level privileges. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.5 (Medium) reflects a low attack vector (local access required), low complexity, and confidentiality impact without integrity or availability loss. The vulnerability requires local presence and standard user privileges, making it a lower-priority threat than remote, unauthenticated vulnerabilities, though still warranting prompt remediation in environments handling sensitive information on Android devices.

Business impact

Information disclosure via this vulnerability could allow compromised or shared devices to leak user data—such as wallpaper preferences, device settings, or cached sensitive information—to local users or malicious apps. While the scope is confined to local access, this poses a secondary risk in multi-user environments, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) programs, or scenarios where a device is physically compromised. Organizations managing Samsung Android fleets should assess whether SpriteWallpaper processes or stores data subject to compliance requirements (e.g., PII, credentials, or corporate metadata). The moderate severity suggests this is a lower-tier risk compared to remote code execution or privilege escalation, but should not be deferred indefinitely.

Affected systems

The vulnerability affects Samsung Android devices running SpriteWallpaper versions prior to the June 2026 SMR Release 1. The vendor/product field in the advisory indicates multiple Samsung Android configurations are in scope. Organizations should cross-reference their specific device models and Android versions against Samsung's official security advisory to determine exact affected firmware builds. SpriteWallpaper is a system-level component, so all Samsung Android devices shipping with this application in vulnerable versions are technically in scope unless patched.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires local device access and user-level privileges (non-root). No network interaction, user interaction, or elevated permissions are needed once the attacker is on the device. This limits the threat to scenarios where an attacker has already gained local access via physical compromise, shared device abuse, or a separate vulnerability chain. The exploitability is straightforward once access is present, but the high barrier to local access keeps the overall attack complexity low. Currently, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA KEV catalog, indicating no active in-the-wild exploitation has been publicly tracked as of the advisory date.

Remediation

Samsung has issued a patch in the June 2026 SMR Release 1 that corrects the improper component export in SpriteWallpaper. Organizations should deploy this security patch to affected Samsung Android devices as part of routine monthly or quarterly patch cycles, prioritizing devices with higher sensitivity (e.g., corporate-issued phones handling customer data). No workarounds are available; patching is the definitive remediation. Verify patch status through Samsung's official Security Updates page or your device management platform.

Patch guidance

Apply Samsung's June 2026 SMR Release 1 or later to all affected Samsung Android devices. This typically involves over-the-air (OTA) updates pushed automatically, though IT teams managing corporate fleets can use Samsung Knox or third-party MDM solutions to verify compliance. Check Samsung's official security bulletin to identify the exact firmware build numbers containing the fix for your specific device models. Test patches in a pilot cohort before broad deployment to ensure no regression with critical business apps.

Detection guidance

Monitor for unusual local process access to SpriteWallpaper's exported components using Android security event logs and Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) tools. System administrators can audit manifest files in vulnerable SpriteWallpaper APKs to confirm improper exports; however, post-patch verification is more practical. Threat detection should focus on apps requesting permissions to read or interact with SpriteWallpaper's exported components. Standard endpoint detection (EDR) solutions have limited visibility into Android application-level events; prioritize native Android audit logs and dedicated mobile security solutions for detection.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability should be patched within a standard maintenance window (30–90 days), not during emergency response. The local-only attack vector, lack of public exploitation, and Medium severity rating position it as a routine security update. However, organizations with strict data protection policies or high concentrations of Samsung devices in sensitive roles (e.g., field service, healthcare) should accelerate deployment. The absence from the KEV catalog suggests no active threat activity, reducing urgency. Pair this with other monthly patches to optimize deployment cycles.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.5 (Medium) is driven by the local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and requirement for user privileges (PR:L), all of which reduce the base risk. The confidentiality impact (C:H) is significant, but the absence of integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N) impact caps the severity. The unchanged scope (S:U) further limits the blast radius. This score appropriately reflects a localized information disclosure that is less severe than remote vulnerabilities or those with broader system impact, yet still material enough to warrant standard patching.

Frequently asked questions