CVE-2022-20524

Local privilege escalation via stale worker reference

Published Dec 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

Use-after-free in Android 13 Vibrator.cpp allows local users to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges through the compose method. The method starts a worker whose lambda implicitly captures the Vibrator object without retaining shared ownership, so the worker can dereference it after destruction. Low-privileged local access is required, but no user interaction is needed; successful exploitation executes code with the component's elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Android 13 Vibrator.cpp allows local users to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges through the compose method. The method starts a worker whose lambda implicitly captures the Vibrator object without retaining shared ownership, so the worker can dereference it after destruction. Low-privileged local access is required, but no user interaction is needed; successful exploitation executes code with the component's elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-20524
Published
Dec 16, 2022
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-416, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 2025Record 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-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-13

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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.

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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

CWE-416Use After Free
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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