CVE-2021-0608

Local privilege escalation via arbitrary activity launch

Published Jun 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Privilege escalation in Google Pixel Launcher allows local users to launch arbitrary activities without user interaction. The handleAppLaunch method in AppLaunchActivity.java acts as a confused deputy by starting an attacker-chosen activity without enforcing the caller's intended authority. A low-privileged local application is sufficient, and successful exploitation gains additional privileges without user interaction.

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

Privilege escalation in Google Pixel Launcher allows local users to launch arbitrary activities without user interaction. The handleAppLaunch method in AppLaunchActivity.java acts as a confused deputy by starting an attacker-chosen activity without enforcing the caller's intended authority. A low-privileged local application is sufficient, and successful exploitation gains additional privileges without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0608
Published
Jun 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Pixel Launcher
Classifications
CWE-610, 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 kernel

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Pixel Launcherversion=Android kernel

Published CVSS scores

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

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 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-610Externally Controlled Reference to a Resource in Another Sphere
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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