CVE-2021-39738

Local privilege escalation via unchecked Bluetooth pairing

Published May 10, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Missing authorization in Google Android Automotive OS 10 through 12L allows local users to pair Bluetooth devices without consent. CarSettings accepts a Bluetooth pairing action without performing the permission check that enforces the vehicle user's approval. Exploitation requires local access but no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and its bounded result is an unauthorized paired device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Google Android Automotive OS 10 through 12L allows local users to pair Bluetooth devices without consent. CarSettings accepts a Bluetooth pairing action without performing the permission check that enforces the vehicle user's approval. Exploitation requires local access but no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and its bounded result is an unauthorized paired device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39738
Published
May 10, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android Automotive OS
Classifications
CWE-862
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 10, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization

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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