CVE-2021-0464

Local privilege escalation via sound-trigger heap overwrite

Published Mar 10, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Heap buffer overflow in Android kernel Audio Server allows local users to gain elevated privileges by triggering sound-trigger event allocation. The sound_trigger_event_alloc function in platform.h writes beyond its allocated heap buffer while allocating a sound-trigger event. A local malicious application can trigger the flaw without user interaction or additional execution privileges, allowing privilege escalation on an affected device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer overflow in Android kernel Audio Server allows local users to gain elevated privileges by triggering sound-trigger event allocation. The sound_trigger_event_alloc function in platform.h writes beyond its allocated heap buffer while allocating a sound-trigger event. A local malicious application can trigger the flaw without user interaction or additional execution privileges, allowing privilege escalation on an affected device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0464
Published
Mar 10, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android kernel

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android kernel

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1068Exploitation 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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