CVE-2021-39768

Local privilege escalation via unchecked Wi-Fi addition

Published Mar 30, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Missing authorization in Android 12L Settings allows local users to add an auto-connect Wi-Fi network through user interaction. Settings accepts the network-addition request without checking the permission that should require the device user's consent. Exploitation requires user interaction and changes the trusted network configuration, enabling local privilege escalation without prior execution privileges.

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 Android 12L Settings allows local users to add an auto-connect Wi-Fi network through user interaction. Settings accepts the network-addition request without checking the permission that should require the device user's consent. Exploitation requires user interaction and changes the trusted network configuration, enabling local privilege escalation without prior execution privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39768
Published
Mar 30, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-862
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 30, 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-12L

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-12L

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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-862Missing Authorization

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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