CVE-2021-0481

Local privilege escalation via unchecked picture URI

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper URI validation in Android 8.1, 9, 10, and 11 allows local users to access unauthorized files and escalate privileges through Settings. EditUserPhotoController.onActivityResult accepts a returned picture URI without requiring the content scheme, then sends it into crop or photo-processing paths. Exploitation requires user interaction during a multi-user profile-image change and grants unauthorized file access in the elevated Settings context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper URI validation in Android 8.1, 9, 10, and 11 allows local users to access unauthorized files and escalate privileges through Settings. EditUserPhotoController.onActivityResult accepts a returned picture URI without requiring the content scheme, then sends it into crop or photo-processing paths. Exploitation requires user interaction during a multi-user profile-image change and grants unauthorized file access in the elevated Settings context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0481
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
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-8.1 Android-9 Android-10 Android-11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
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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