CVE-2021-1009

Installed-app disclosure via package visibility side channel

Published Dec 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information disclosure in Android 12 PackageManagerService allows local users to identify installed apps through a side channel. The setApplicationCategoryHint method exposes an observable response difference for a supplied package name without enforcing package-query visibility. A locally executing app needs no additional privileges or user interaction, and the consequence is limited to learning whether chosen apps are installed.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Information disclosure in Android 12 PackageManagerService allows local users to identify installed apps through a side channel. The setApplicationCategoryHint method exposes an observable response difference for a supplied package name without enforcing package-query visibility. A locally executing app needs no additional privileges or user interaction, and the consequence is limited to learning whether chosen apps are installed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1009
Published
Dec 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-203, T1418
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 15, 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-12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-12

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/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 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-203Observable Discrepancy
T1418Software Discovery

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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