Firmware
Samsung April 2023 Security Patch fixes various Exynos flaws with over 60 vulnerabilities
Last week, Samsung began rolling out the Android April 2023 security patch for its Galaxy devices. And the update was first available for the latest Galaxy S23 Series, and now the Korean giant has released the report on what security flaws it has resolved with its new software update.
Samsung April 2023 security patch
Samsung is one of the top companies which always brings new updates for devices as soon as possible. According to the information, two Galaxy devices have already received the April 2023 security update, including the Galaxy S23 series and Galaxy Z Fold 4 devices.
As per the official documentation of Samsung, there are over 50 patches included by Google; from those 46 are high-security patches, 4 are critical and 1 is moderate.
In addition to the 55 security fixes released by Google, Samsung has added 15 additional fixes for security flaws found in Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Most of these vulnerabilities have been found in Galaxy devices running Android 11, Android 12, and Android 13, and some of these fixes include those found in Samsung Exynos chips.
Among these were various flaws that could have been exploited to gain unauthorized access or control of the device. These vulnerabilities included issues with input validation in the CertByte function, out-of-bounds write in the libaudiosaplus_sec.so function, and improper authorization in SecSettings.
Additionally, Samsung addressed vulnerabilities related to improper access control in features such as SemClipboard, SLocation, and Telephony. The patch also fixed security loopholes in the TIGERF trustlet, a hijacking vulnerability in CertificatePolicy, and an improper authorization issue in the Smart Suggestions widget. By addressing these vulnerabilities, Samsung has taken steps to ensure the security and privacy of its users.
Below is a list of the devices that have already received, or will receive, April 2023 security patches:
- Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip4, W23, W23 flip
- Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 5G, Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20+ 5G, Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S20 FE 5G, Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21+ 5G, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 5G, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
- Galaxy A52, Galaxy A52 5G, Galaxy A52s 5G, Galaxy A53 5G, Galaxy Xcover5, Galaxy Xcover6 Pro
The list is probably not exhaustive, as Samsung will update other smartphones and maybe some tablets (despite the updates being quarterly for different models) and smartwatches (Galaxy Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch5 and Watch5 Pro). The April 2023 security patch rollout will last a few weeks: keep following us as we will keep you abreast of developments.
Firmware
Unlocked Galaxy S21 FE Gets April 2024 Security Update, One UI 6.1 Wait Continues in the US
Samsung Galaxy users with eligible One UI 6.1 devices are eagerly waiting for the update, but the company has decided to install the April 2024 security patch before the significant One UI update. So, the Galaxy S21 FE also started getting an April 2024 security patch update in the US.
The unlocked unit of the Galaxy S21 FE started getting an April 2024 security patch update with the firmware version number G990U1UESAFXD1. With the latest update, the company has made some security-related enhancements that strengthen the security mechanisms of the devices. Previously, in some Latin American countries, the device had already received the update.
If you are a fan of the One UI features, don’t be too excited; the latest update for the Galaxy S21 FE doesn’t bring any significant features for the devices. But if you are one of those users who always worries about the security of personal data, then you should update your device to the latest version.
However, the Galaxy S21 FE is eligible to get One UI 6.1, so you just need to wait for some time. The Korean giant will provide the next One UI update to the device in the next few weeks. With the One UI 6.1 update, Galaxy S21 FE users may get some useful AI features that will enhance the overall user experience of the devices.
Coming to the April 2024 security patch, if you are using the unlocked version of the Galaxy S21 FE in the US, then now you can install the latest security patch update on your device via the software update menu from the system settings.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has grabbed the April 2024 security patch on the Verizon network, and now the device is getting the same update on more carriers. The Korean giant has also rolled out the update for the device outside of the US.
The Galaxy S20 FE is getting a new update with the firmware version number G781USQSFHXD1. Specifically, AT&T, Dish, Metro PCS, Sprint, and T-Mobile have all reported seeing it. In the coming days, the company is likely to roll out the update to all eligible devices.
For your information, the April 2024 update is part of Google’s Android security maintenance program, which aims to enhance the overall security of the devices. Going into details, the latest software will address more than 40 fixes, with Google adding 27 fixes and Samsung adding 17 more exclusively for Galaxy devices.
Moreover, the latest update may also bring some more improvements for the devices and enhance their overall performance and stability. If you are experiencing issues while using any of your device’s functions, you should update your device to the most recent version.
If you are using the locked version of the Galaxy S20 FE device in the US, then the update should be live for your device. To install it, follow these simple steps: First, go to the system settings and open the software update menu. If you see a new update available, tap on the download button.
Earlier, Samsung rolled out the April 2024 security patch update for the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S20 FE devices. But it was limited to some regions, and moving forward, it is gradually expanding to more units. The latest development shows that these devices are receiving April 2024 security patch updates in the US.
Notably, the update is live for the Verizon-locked versions of the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S20 FE with the firmware version numbers S711USQS3CXD2 and G781VSQSDHXD2. The April 2024 update brings some security-related enhancements for the devices. It is expected that unlocked units of these devices may also get the update in the next few days.
If you are a fan of the One UI features, don’t be too excited; the latest update for the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S23 FE doesn’t bring any significant features for the devices. But if you are one of those users who always worries about the security of personal data, then you should update your device to the latest version.
The April 2024 update offers the most recent security patch, incorporating numerous security improvements to safeguard your Galaxy device from various potentially harmful external threats. So, if you are concerned about your data, it is necessary to keep the device up to date.
Along with the security improvements, the update may also provide some extra improvements that will enhance the overall performance and stability of the devices. So, to take advantage, you can now update your device to the latest version.