CVE-2021-41861

Image retention via failed self-destruction cleanup

Published Oct 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper image deletion in Telegram for Android 7.5.0 through 7.8.0 allows local users to retain self-destructed images in shared storage. After roughly two to four uses of self-destruct, the interface reports deletion while image files remain in /Storage/Emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Image/. Local access to the device storage is required, and the bounded consequence is failure to delete images that the interface represents as deleted.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper image deletion in Telegram for Android 7.5.0 through 7.8.0 allows local users to retain self-destructed images in shared storage. After roughly two to four uses of self-destruct, the interface reports deletion while image files remain in /Storage/Emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Image/. Local access to the device storage is required, and the bounded consequence is failure to delete images that the interface represents as deleted.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41861
Published
Oct 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1533
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 4, 2021CVE 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

3.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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 11, 2026Sep 17, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 17, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1533Data from Local System

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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