CVE-2023-21178

Local file disclosure via stale decrypted caches

Published Jun 28, 2023 · Updated Dec 4, 2024

A race condition in Google Cloud Android 13 allows local users with System execution privileges to disclose decrypted file data. During key eviction, vold can race process termination and leave decrypted filesystem content in kernel caches instead of flushing it. Exploitation requires local System execution privileges and a successful race, but no user interaction; exposure is limited to residual decrypted data.

CVSS severity4.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A race condition in Google Cloud Android 13 allows local users with System execution privileges to disclose decrypted file data. During key eviction, vold can race process termination and leave decrypted filesystem content in kernel caches instead of flushing it. Exploitation requires local System execution privileges and a successful race, but no user interaction; exposure is limited to residual decrypted data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21178
Published
Jun 28, 2023
Updated
Dec 4, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-362, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 4, 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-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-13

Published CVSS scores

4.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1005Data from Local System

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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