CVE-2023-21123

Local privilege escalation via tracing authorization bypass

Published Jun 15, 2023 · Updated Dec 18, 2024

Missing authorization in Android Framework versions 11, 12, 12L, and 13 allows local users to escalate privileges through tracing. Multiple Framework functions fail to check permission before allowing tracing, bypassing the DISALLOW_DEBUGGING_FEATURES restriction. A local user needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation grants higher local privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Android Framework versions 11, 12, 12L, and 13 allows local users to escalate privileges through tracing. Multiple Framework functions fail to check permission before allowing tracing, bypassing the DISALLOW_DEBUGGING_FEATURES restriction. A local user needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and successful exploitation grants higher local privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21123
Published
Jun 15, 2023
Updated
Dec 18, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-862, T1068
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 Android-12L Android-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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-862Missing Authorization
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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