Samsung has released an emergency security patch for a critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-21043) affecting Android 13 and newer devices. The flaw was actively exploited and reported by Meta/WhatsApp in August, highlighting the growing use of image-based exploits targeting mobile ecosystems.
The vulnerability is located in libimagecodec.quram.so, an image parsing library developed by Quramsoft. It is caused by an out-of-bounds write, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code simply by sending a malicious image file to the device.
Samsung confirmed that exploitation was already occurring in the wild prior to releasing the patch.
Why This Matters
Image parsing vulnerabilities are especially dangerous because they exploit common features like image rendering-often without any user interaction. A similar exploit was previously used in a WhatsApp zero-day on iOS and macOS (CVE-2025-55177), chained with an Apple vulnerability (CVE-2025-43300), in a sophisticated spyware campaign.
Industries at Risk
- Telecommunications and mobile service providers
- Social media and messaging platforms
- Enterprises with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies
- App developers and companies relying on image parsing libraries
Recommended Actions
- Apply the latest Android security updates to all Samsung devices
- Review and audit third-party libraries, especially image parsers like Quramsoft’s
- Educate users to avoid unsolicited or suspicious image files
- Monitor Android devices for signs of compromise
- Enforce mobile security controls and patch compliance in BYOD environments
What This Incident Reveals
Attackers are increasingly targeting foundational software components, such as image codecs, that are embedded in widely used apps and platforms. These kinds of vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they bypass traditional user awareness and are difficult to detect without strong mobile endpoint monitoring.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-21043 is a reminder that even standard features like image rendering can be an attack vector. Rapid patching, secure software development practices, and real-time monitoring are key to defending against these advanced threats.
About COE Security
COE Security partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and government to secure systems and ensure compliance. Our offerings include:
- AI-enhanced threat detection and real-time monitoring
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We help mobile providers secure device ecosystems, messaging platforms protect user privacy, enterprises enforce device security, app developers adopt safer libraries, and governments ensure secure deployment practices.
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