CVE-2018-21055

Root access via custom image script execution

Published Apr 8, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Privilege escalation in Samsung mobile devices with Android 7.0 on MSM8996 allows attackers to gain root via a custom image. The device processes the custom image and executes its arbitrary scripts in the INIT context, but Samsung has not identified the faulty component or validation step. Exploitation requires an affected Qualcomm-based device capable of loading the crafted image; INIT-context execution grants control during device startup.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Samsung mobile devices with Android 7.0 on MSM8996 allows attackers to gain root via a custom image. The device processes the custom image and executes its arbitrary scripts in the INIT context, but Samsung has not identified the faulty component or validation step. Exploitation requires an affected Qualcomm-based device capable of loading the crafted image; INIT-context execution grants control during device startup.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-21055
Published
Apr 8, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1404
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 8, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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