Samsung is starting August with a security sweep that patches dozens of flaws across Galaxy phones and tablets.
The company has published details of its August 2026 Security Maintenance Release (SMR), which addresses 56 security vulnerabilities affecting eligible Galaxy smartphones and tablets running Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16.
The update includes 38 Android security fixes from Google’s August Security Bulletin and 18 Samsung-specific patches for One UI and Galaxy software. Of Google’s fixes, eight are rated critical, and 30 are classified as high priority.
Samsung also noted that nine Google-listed vulnerabilities are not part of this month’s release. One was already included in the July update, while the remaining eight do not affect Galaxy devices because they are tied to hardware or configurations Samsung does not use.
The rollout is expected to begin in the coming days, with Samsung’s latest flagship devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and Galaxy S26 series, likely receiving the update first before it expands to older flagship models and supported Galaxy A-series phones.
One UI patches close Galaxy-specific security gaps
Beyond Android itself, Samsung is fixing 18 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVEs) affecting its own software.
Among the more notable fixes is a patch for an authorization bypass in SemClipboardService that could have allowed local apps to access clipboard contents without proper permission. Samsung also addressed vulnerabilities affecting Samsung Contacts, Dialer, Messages, Galaxy Themes, and AppLock.
Several of the fixes target media components and system libraries, including the VC1 and MPEG4 codecs, where memory-handling flaws could potentially be exploited by local attackers. The company also strengthened access controls for the Weaver hardware component, closing a vulnerability that could have allowed attackers with local access to render a device unusable.
Some Samsung-specific vulnerabilities remain undisclosed, as the company noted that certain SVE details cannot yet be publicly released.
What Galaxy owners should know
Security updates rarely introduce new features, but they remain one of the most important software releases users receive.
This month’s package addresses multiple high-risk Android vulnerabilities alongside Galaxy-specific flaws affecting core apps and system services. While many of the Samsung-specific issues require local or physical access to a device, installing the update reduces the risk of privilege escalation, unauthorized data access, and attacks targeting multimedia components.
Because Samsung distributes updates in phases, availability will vary by model, carrier, and region. Some users may receive the patch days or even weeks after the rollout begins. Users can install the update through Settings > Software update > Download and install once it becomes available for their device.
Related reading: For more on AI’s role in software security, read our coverage of 1Password’s finding that AI-generated security patches fail more than half the time.