CVE-2021-1039

Local privilege escalation via permission-overlay tapjacking

Published Dec 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Tapjacking in NotificationAccessActivity in Google Android Automotive OS 9 through 12 allows local users to gain additional permissions. The activity's manifest permits a malicious app to place a deceptive overlay over its permission UI, causing a user's tap to authorize unintended access. Exploitation requires a local malicious app and user interaction; successful abuse elevates that app's privileges without prior execution privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Tapjacking in NotificationAccessActivity in Google Android Automotive OS 9 through 12 allows local users to gain additional permissions. The activity's manifest permits a malicious app to place a deceptive overlay over its permission UI, causing a user's tap to authorize unintended access. Exploitation requires a local malicious app and user interaction; successful abuse elevates that app's privileges without prior execution privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-1039
Published
Dec 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android Automotive OS
Classifications
CWE-1021, CAPEC-506
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Android Automotive OSversion=Android-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-9

Published CVSS scores

6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
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

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1021Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames
CAPEC-506Tapjacking

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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