Kernel-memory disclosure via overbroad netfilter copies
Published Dec 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Information disclosure in the Android kernel allows local users with System privileges to read kernel memory through netfilter control calls. The iptables export path copies whole match and target structures, including private kernel data and uninitialized trailing bytes, to userspace before overwriting selected fields. Exploitation requires local System-level execution and no user interaction; the disclosed bytes expose sensitive kernel memory without changing data or interrupting service.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in the Android kernel allows local users with System privileges to read kernel memory through netfilter control calls. The iptables export path copies whole match and target structures, including private kernel data and uninitialized trailing bytes, to userspace before overwriting selected fields. Exploitation requires local System-level execution and no user interaction; the disclosed bytes expose sensitive kernel memory without changing data or interrupting service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-39636
- Published
- Dec 15, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- CWE-665, T1533
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 15, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 4, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=Android kernel
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
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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