CVE-2023-21121

Local privilege escalation via blocked VPN removal

Published Jun 15, 2023 · Updated Dec 18, 2024

Improper input validation in Android 11 and 12 allows local users to retain control of a previously connected VPN without user interaction. AppManagementFragment.onResume fails to validate VPN-related state when refreshing application management, preventing the user from forgetting the VPN. Ordinary local execution privileges suffice, leaving the VPN association resistant to removal and enabling local privilege escalation.

CVSS severity7.8
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

Improper input validation in Android 11 and 12 allows local users to retain control of a previously connected VPN without user interaction. AppManagementFragment.onResume fails to validate VPN-related state when refreshing application management, preventing the user from forgetting the VPN. Ordinary local execution privileges suffice, leaving the VPN association resistant to removal and enabling local privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21121
Published
Jun 15, 2023
Updated
Dec 18, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-276, CWE-20
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 18, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android-11 Android-12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11 Android-12

Published CVSS scores

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

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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-276Incorrect Default Permissions
CWE-20Improper Input Validation

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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