CVE-2023-21093

Local privilege escalation via uncanonicalized media paths

Published Apr 19, 2023 · Updated Feb 5, 2025

Path traversal in Google MediaProvider on Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13 allows local users to access other applications' files and elevate privileges. FileUtils.extractRelativePath applies PATTERN_RELATIVE_PATH to an uncanonicalized path, so dot segments escape the intended media directory during access checks. A local app needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction and can cross application directory boundaries.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Google MediaProvider on Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13 allows local users to access other applications' files and elevate privileges. FileUtils.extractRelativePath applies PATTERN_RELATIVE_PATH to an uncanonicalized path, so dot segments escape the intended media directory during access checks. A local app needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction and can cross application directory boundaries.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21093
Published
Apr 19, 2023
Updated
Feb 5, 2025
Vendor
Google
Product
MediaProvider
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 5, 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-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · MediaProviderversion=Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13

Published CVSS scores

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

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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