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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallLANDFALL was Android spyware that exploited a flaw in Samsung’s image-processing software, tracked as CVE-2025-21042. Malicious DNG image files were likely circulated through a WhatsApp-related workflow, but researchers did not confirm the full delivery chain or identify the attackers. Samsung patched the flaw in April 2025; install the latest security update available for your supported Galaxy model.
What was LANDFALL spyware?
LANDFALL was a commercial-grade Android spyware campaign identified by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42. It targeted Samsung’s image-processing library, libimagecodec.quram.so, using specially malformed DNG files. DNG is an image-file format; in this campaign, the files contained embedded ZIP archives and spyware components.
The vulnerability is CVE-2025-21042. Samsung tracked it internally as SVE-2024-1969. The flaw was in image handling, not a vulnerability in WhatsApp itself.
How did the exploit work, and was WhatsApp involved?
Unit 42 found malicious DNG files with filenames such as “WhatsApp Image” and “WA000.” Those names suggest the files were distributed through a WhatsApp-associated messaging workflow. They do not prove exactly how a victim received or opened a file, and researchers did not identify a WhatsApp vulnerability.
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The attack may have been zero-click: image processing can happen without a person explicitly tapping an image. However, Unit 42 did not fully confirm the delivery chain, so it is not established that every infection—or any particular infection—required no user interaction.
What could the spyware do?
The analyzed samples included a loader and a component designed to manipulate SELinux policy in memory. SELinux is an Android security mechanism; altering its running policy could help malware obtain elevated permissions and persist. Unit 42 had not recovered every component, so the available analysis does not establish the complete framework or every step of the exploit.
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LANDFALL’s reported surveillance capabilities included recording microphone audio, tracking location, and collecting photos, contacts and call logs.
Which devices and locations were implicated?
The flaw affected Samsung’s image-processing software, but the available findings do not provide a complete list of affected Galaxy models or Android versions. Unit 42’s evidence pointed to potential targets in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Morocco. These are likely target locations, not proof that every user in those countries was targeted or infected.
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Unit 42 identified six command-and-control servers and six malicious DNG samples. The earliest listed malicious DNG submissions appeared on VirusTotal in July 2024; that date indicates when samples were submitted, not necessarily when the campaign began.
Who was behind LANDFALL?
The attackers have not been officially identified. Unit 42 noted infrastructure similarities to Stealth Falcon and the debug label “Bridge Head,” but said those clues did not establish a direct link. Commercial spyware vendors have also been raised as a possibility, not confirmed as operators. ENISA’s digest likewise described attribution as unconfirmed.
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When was CVE-2025-21042 patched?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | Earliest listed malicious DNG submissions appeared on VirusTotal. |
| September 25, 2024 | The vulnerability was privately reported to Samsung. |
| April 2025 | Samsung issued a firmware/security update addressing the flaw. |
| August–September 2025 | Public reporting and Samsung’s assignment of CVE-2025-21042 became part of the disclosure timeline. |
The flaw has been patched in Samsung’s April 2025 update. That does not mean every Galaxy model received the patch: update availability depends on the device and its support status.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should Galaxy owners do?
- Open your phone’s Settings and look for Software update or System update; menu names can vary by model and software version.
- Install the latest security update offered for your device, then check again if the phone indicates that another update is available.
- If no update is offered, check Samsung’s support information for your exact model or contact Samsung or your carrier to confirm whether the device still receives security updates.
- If the phone is no longer supported, treat it as unable to receive this and future security fixes. For sensitive use, move to a device that receives current security updates; changing phones is a precaution, not proof that the old device was infected.
A suspicious-looking image or a filename alone cannot establish that a phone was compromised. If you may be a high-risk target or manage devices for an organization, seek qualified mobile incident-response help rather than relying on the appearance of a file to determine infection.
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