CVE-2021-0488Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via encoder size overflow

Published Apr 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

An out-of-bounds write in Petteri Aimonen Nanopb allows local users with System privileges to gain elevated access on Android. The pb_write function adds count to bytes_written without first detecting integer wraparound, allowing an untrusted bytes.size value to bypass max_size and drive reads and writes beyond the buffer. Exploitation requires code already running with Android System privileges and a build where size_t equals pb_size_t; no user interaction is required.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

An out-of-bounds write in Petteri Aimonen Nanopb allows local users with System privileges to gain elevated access on Android. The pb_write function adds count to bytes_written without first detecting integer wraparound, allowing an untrusted bytes.size value to bypass max_size and drive reads and writes beyond the buffer. Exploitation requires code already running with Android System privileges and a build where size_t equals pb_size_t; no user interaction is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0488
Published
Apr 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Petteri Aimonen
Product
Nanopb
Classifications
CWE-787, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 15, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Android kernel

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Petteri Aimonen · Nanopbversion=Android kernel

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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