CVE-2026-20978: Medium severity Samsung KnoxGuardManager vulnerability

Published Feb 4, 2026
·
Updated

Improper authorization in KnoxGuardManager prior to SMR Feb-2026 Release 1 allows local attackers to bypass the persistence configuration of the application.

Affected Software

126 affected components
Samsung KnoxGuardManager<SMR Feb-2026 Release 1
Samsung Android=13.0
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-apr-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-apr-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-apr-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-apr-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-aug-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-aug-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-aug-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-aug-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-dec-2021-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-dec-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-dec-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-dec-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-dec-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-feb-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-feb-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-feb-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-feb-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jan-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jan-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jan-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jan-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jan-2026-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jul-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jul-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jul-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jul-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jun-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jun-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jun-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-jun-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-mar-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-mar-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-mar-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-mar-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-may-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-may-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-may-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-may-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-nov-2021-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-nov-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-nov-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-nov-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-nov-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-oct-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-oct-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-oct-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-oct-2025-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-sep-2022-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-sep-2023-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-sep-2024-r1
Samsung Android=13.0-smr-sep-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-apr-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-apr-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-apr-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-apr-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-aug-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-aug-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-aug-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-aug-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-dec-2021-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-dec-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-dec-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-dec-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-dec-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-feb-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-feb-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-feb-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-feb-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jan-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jan-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jan-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jan-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jan-2026-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jul-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jul-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jul-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jul-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jun-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jun-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jun-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-jun-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-mar-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-mar-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-mar-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-mar-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-may-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-may-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-may-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-may-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-nov-2021-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-nov-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-nov-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-nov-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-nov-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-oct-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-oct-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-oct-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-oct-2025-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-sep-2022-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-sep-2023-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-sep-2024-r1
Samsung Android=14.0-smr-sep-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-apr-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-aug-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-dec-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-feb-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-jan-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-jan-2026-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-jul-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-jun-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-mar-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-may-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-nov-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-oct-2025-r1
Samsung Android=15.0-smr-sep-2025-r1
Samsung Android=16.0
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-aug-2025-r1
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-dec-2025-r1
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-jan-2026-r1
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-nov-2025-r1
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-oct-2025-r1
Samsung Android=16.0-smr-sep-2025-r1

Event History

Feb 4, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·06:14 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·06:14 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·07:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-20978?

CVE-2026-20978 is considered to have a moderate severity due to its potential to allow local unauthorized access to application configurations.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-20978?

To fix CVE-2026-20978, update the Samsung KnoxGuardManager to the version released after SMR Feb-2026 Release 1.

3

What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2026-20978?

CVE-2026-20978 can be exploited by local attackers who can bypass the persistence configurations of the application.

4

Which components are affected by CVE-2026-20978?

CVE-2026-20978 primarily affects the Samsung KnoxGuardManager application prior to SMR Feb-2026 Release 1.

5

Is CVE-2026-20978 present in earlier versions of Samsung Android?

Yes, CVE-2026-20978 is applicable to Samsung Android versions prior to the SMR Feb-2026 Release 1.

Contact

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