CVE-2026-58304: Samsung Escargot Buffer Overflow Vulnerability – CVSS 6.1 Medium

Technical summary

CVE-2026-58304 is an out-of-bounds read and write vulnerability in Samsung Open Source Escargot (a JavaScript engine used in Samsung devices and applications). The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking on buffer operations, classified under CWE-125 (out-of-bounds read) and CWE-787 (out-of-bounds write). The flaw exists in Escargot versions prior to commit 779f6bedf58f334dec64b0a51ebb724b4708b84a. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.1 (MEDIUM) reflects that the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, but can result in high availability impact if successfully exploited.

Business impact

Organizations deploying Samsung products that bundle Escargot (including certain smart TVs, wearables, and IoT devices) face risk of service interruption if an attacker crafts malicious JavaScript that triggers the buffer overflow. While the attack vector is local and requires user interaction, successful exploitation could crash critical functions or corrupt application state. For enterprises managing fleets of Samsung devices, this represents a stability and availability concern rather than an immediate data breach risk, though memory corruption could theoretically be chained with other vulnerabilities for escalated impact.

Affected systems

Escargot JavaScript engine in versions prior to commit 779f6bedf58f334dec64b0a51ebb724b4708b84a is affected. This engine is integrated into Samsung consumer electronics and smart device platforms. Verify specific product impact against Samsung's official security advisory, as the vulnerability notice does not enumerate end-user products by model or version number.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires local system access and user interaction (e.g., opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious website in a browser using Escargot). The vulnerability is not trivial to exploit reliably—successful triggering depends on heap layout and memory conditions—but a motivated attacker with control over JavaScript execution could craft a proof-of-concept. No public exploits or active exploitation has been reported as of the publication date.

Remediation

Apply patches from Samsung that update Escargot to commit 779f6bedf58f334dec64b0a51ebb724b4708b84a or later. Check Samsung's security bulletins for specific firmware and software version numbers corresponding to affected devices. For organizations unable to patch immediately, restrict execution of untrusted JavaScript and limit user download/execution of files from untrusted sources.

Patch guidance

Samsung will provide firmware and software updates incorporating the patched Escargot engine. Consult Samsung's official security advisory for the exact version numbers and release schedules for your device model. Update distribution typically occurs through over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates on consumer devices and through software repositories for Escargot standalone deployments. Verify patch application by checking the Escargot version or engine identifier in device settings or application logs.

Detection guidance

Monitor for crashes or unusual termination of applications using Escargot (e.g., Samsung Internet Browser, SmartTV applications). Intrusion detection systems can flag attempts to load malicious JavaScript payloads if behavioral signatures are available. Kernel-level monitoring may detect memory corruption patterns (e.g., segmentation faults). Log JavaScript execution contexts and track unexpected file opens that trigger engine parsing.

Why prioritize this

Although rated MEDIUM severity, this vulnerability merits timely attention because it affects a widely distributed component in Samsung's ecosystem. The local-plus-user-interaction barrier prevents this from being critical, but the high availability impact (application crash) and potential for chaining with privilege escalation or persistence mechanisms justify swift patching. Organizations with large Samsung device deployments should prioritize this within their quarterly patch cycle.

Risk score, explained

CVSS 3.1 score of 6.1 reflects: (1) Local attack vector—requires presence on the system; (2) Low complexity, no privileges needed, but requires user interaction (opening a file or visiting a page); (3) No confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, but high availability impact from application crash or instability. The score is medium because the barrier to exploitation is moderate and the immediate harm is limited to availability, not data breach.

Frequently asked questions