CVE-2023-21096Known exploitation

Proximal code execution via invalidated iterators

Published Apr 19, 2023 · Updated Feb 5, 2025

Use-after-free in Android 12, 12L, and 13 Bluetooth System code allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code. OnWakelockReleased erases entries from two attribution maps during range-based iteration, then uses each invalidated iterator to advance the loop. No authentication or user interaction is required, but exploitation requires Bluetooth proximity and successful bypass of platform and service mitigations.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Android 12, 12L, and 13 Bluetooth System code allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code. OnWakelockReleased erases entries from two attribution maps during range-based iteration, then uses each invalidated iterator to advance the loop. No authentication or user interaction is required, but exploitation requires Bluetooth proximity and successful bypass of platform and service mitigations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21096
Published
Apr 19, 2023
Updated
Feb 5, 2025
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-416, T1210
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

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-12 Android-12L Android-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-12 Android-12L Android-13

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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