CVE-2021-0692

Local privilege escalation via mutable PendingIntent

Published Oct 6, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper access control in Android 9 through 11 allows local users to escalate privileges through a Launcher3 installer broadcast. The sendBroadcastToInstaller method in FirstScreenBroadcast.java creates a PendingIntent without FLAG_IMMUTABLE, allowing its wrapped intent to launch an unintended activity. A malicious local application needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation launches an activity with elevated authority.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Android 9 through 11 allows local users to escalate privileges through a Launcher3 installer broadcast. The sendBroadcastToInstaller method in FirstScreenBroadcast.java creates a PendingIntent without FLAG_IMMUTABLE, allowing its wrapped intent to launch an unintended activity. A malicious local application needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation launches an activity with elevated authority.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0692
Published
Oct 6, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-732, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 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 Android-9 Android-10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11 Android-9 Android-10

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS: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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
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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