Samsung SSD Tool Left Laptops Vulnerable to Admin Hacks for Years — Here's How to Protect Your Data

Your Samsung SSD software might have left your Windows system exposed to admin-level attacks — here's why you should update now.

Samsung Magician, the SSD utility for Windows, patched a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-57836) in version 9.0.0. The flaw allowed non-admin users to perform DLL hijacking and privilege escalation due to weak folder permissions.

Versions 6.3.0 to 8.3.2, released between 2021 and 2025, were affected. Cybersecurity researcher Sandro Poppi reported the issue on August 11, 2024. Exploitation required physical access to replace files in the Magician folder. The patch addresses a temporary folder permission issue and includes a UI/UX overhaul.

Enterprise environments with shared devices face heightened risk, as attackers could escalate privileges to access sensitive data.

This vulnerability mirrors recent privilege escalation flaws in utilities like HP's Support Assistant, where misconfigured permissions enabled similar attacks. The timeline between discovery and disclosure highlights the importance of timely patching in mitigating such risks.