CVE-2021-0645

Local data access via unblocked storage directory

Published Aug 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Permissions bypass in Google Android 11 ExternalStorageProvider allows local users to read private app directories in external storage. The shouldBlockFromTree method fails to reject the Android directory, letting pre-Android 11-targeted apps bypass DocumentsUI enforcement and select a tree rooted at /sdcard/Android. Exploitation requires a malicious app and user interaction; no additional execution privileges are required, and the demonstrated consequence is unauthorized reading of externally stored private app data.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Permissions bypass in Google Android 11 ExternalStorageProvider allows local users to read private app directories in external storage. The shouldBlockFromTree method fails to reject the Android directory, letting pre-Android 11-targeted apps bypass DocumentsUI enforcement and select a tree rooted at /sdcard/Android. Exploitation requires a malicious app and user interaction; no additional execution privileges are required, and the demonstrated consequence is unauthorized reading of externally stored private app data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0645
Published
Aug 17, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-863, T1409
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
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

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1409Stored Application Data

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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