CVE-2023-21117

Local privilege escalation via receiver-registration bypass

Published May 15, 2023 · Updated Jan 31, 2025

Incorrect authorization in Google Cloud Android 13 allows local users to escalate privileges by registering a broadcast receiver. The method previously called enforceNotIsolatedCaller only when RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED was set, leaving another flag path open to isolated callers. An isolated local process needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation crosses its broadcast-receiver permission boundary.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in Google Cloud Android 13 allows local users to escalate privileges by registering a broadcast receiver. The method previously called enforceNotIsolatedCaller only when RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED was set, leaving another flag path open to isolated callers. An isolated local process needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation crosses its broadcast-receiver permission boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21117
Published
May 15, 2023
Updated
Jan 31, 2025
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-863, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 31, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-13

Published CVSS scores

8.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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 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-863Incorrect Authorization
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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