CVE-2021-0548

Local privilege escalation via unchecked NFC command length

Published Jun 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

An out-of-bounds write in Google Android 11's NFC tag reader allows local users to escalate privileges without user interaction. The rw_i93_send_to_lower function in rw_i93.cc handles an NFC ISO 15693 command without the required bounds check and writes beyond its buffer. A local low-privileged process can trigger the flaw without further execution privileges and gain higher privileges on the device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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 Google Android 11's NFC tag reader allows local users to escalate privileges without user interaction. The rw_i93_send_to_lower function in rw_i93.cc handles an NFC ISO 15693 command without the required bounds check and writes beyond its buffer. A local low-privileged process can trigger the flaw without further execution privileges and gain higher privileges on the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0548
Published
Jun 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-787, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 22, 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-11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11

Published CVSS scores

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

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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