CVE-2021-0551Network attack vector

System UI lockup via unvalidated media input

Published Jun 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper input validation in MediaControlPanel.bind in Android 11 allows remote attackers to lock up System UI via a malicious media file. The bind method processes attacker-controlled media input without adequate validation, allowing crafted content to leave System UI unresponsive. Exploitation requires user interaction but no execution privileges, and the reported consequence is an availability-only interface lockup.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in MediaControlPanel.bind in Android 11 allows remote attackers to lock up System UI via a malicious media file. The bind method processes attacker-controlled media input without adequate validation, allowing crafted content to leave System UI unresponsive. Exploitation requires user interaction but no execution privileges, and the reported consequence is an availability-only interface lockup.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0551
Published
Jun 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-74
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Android-11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11

Published CVSS scores

4.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')

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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