CVE-2021-0473

Remote code execution via NFC double free

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Double-free in the Android 8.1 through 11 NFC System component allows physically proximate attackers to execute code without user interaction. The rw_t3t_process_error function in rw_t3t.cc processes uninitialized NFC T3T tag data and frees the same allocation twice on the error path. A crafted NFC exchange within radio range reaches the flaw without privileges, enabling code execution in a privileged system process.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Double-free in the Android 8.1 through 11 NFC System component allows physically proximate attackers to execute code without user interaction. The rw_t3t_process_error function in rw_t3t.cc processes uninitialized NFC T3T tag data and frees the same allocation twice on the error path. A crafted NFC exchange within radio range reaches the flaw without privileges, enabling code execution in a privileged system process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0473
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-908, T1664
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 11, 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-9 Android-10 Android-11 Android-8.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-9 Android-10 Android-11 Android-8.1

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.3NIST NVDAV:A/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1664Exploitation for Initial Access

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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