CVE-2021-0891

Kernel heap disclosure via uninitialized driver memory

Published Aug 24, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in the PowerVR GPU driver on Android SoC devices allows local users to read uninitialized kernel heap memory. The driver returns heap memory to an unprivileged application without initializing the buffer, exposing residual kernel data. Exploitation requires code execution as an unprivileged app on a device containing the affected GPU, and the reported impact is limited to disclosure.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in the PowerVR GPU driver on Android SoC devices allows local users to read uninitialized kernel heap memory. The driver returns heap memory to an unprivileged application without initializing the buffer, exposing residual kernel data. Exploitation requires code execution as an unprivileged app on a device containing the affected GPU, and the reported impact is limited to disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0891
Published
Aug 24, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Imagination Technologies
Product
PowerVR GPU
Classifications
CWE-269
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 2022CVE 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 SoC

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Imagination Technologies · PowerVR GPUversion=Android SoC

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management

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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