CVE-2021-0673

Local privilege escalation via exposed PARAM_FILE command

Published Dec 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper input validation in MediaTek Audio Aurisys HAL on Android 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0 allows local users to elevate privileges. The release-build AudioManager path exposes PARAM_FILE without a permission check, causing an Aurisys library to parse an app-selected configuration file. Exploitation requires an unprivileged app and a vulnerable OEM Aurisys library, but no user interaction or additional execution privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.67%
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 MediaTek Audio Aurisys HAL on Android 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0 allows local users to elevate privileges. The release-build AudioManager path exposes PARAM_FILE without a permission check, causing an Aurisys library to parse an app-selected configuration file. Exploitation requires an unprivileged app and a vulnerable OEM Aurisys library, but no user interaction or additional execution privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0673
Published
Dec 17, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
MediaTek
Product
Audio Aurisys HAL
Classifications
CWE-20, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android 10.0, 11.0, 12.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

MediaTek · Audio Aurisys HALversion=Android 10.0, 11.0, 12.0

Published CVSS scores

4.6NISTAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NISTCVSS: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.

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-20Improper Input Validation
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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