CVE-2023-21189

Local privilege escalation via lock-task bypass

Published Jun 28, 2023 · Updated Dec 4, 2024

Improper locking in Android 13's LockTaskController allows local users to escape lock task mode and gain elevated privileges. The startLockTaskMode method contains a logic error that mishandles lock-task state, allowing the kiosk-style restriction to be bypassed. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and user interaction on a device using lock task mode, after which restricted apps or system UI can become reachable.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in Android 13's LockTaskController allows local users to escape lock task mode and gain elevated privileges. The startLockTaskMode method contains a logic error that mishandles lock-task state, allowing the kiosk-style restriction to be bypassed. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and user interaction on a device using lock task mode, after which restricted apps or system UI can become reachable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21189
Published
Jun 28, 2023
Updated
Dec 4, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-667, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=Android-13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-13

Published CVSS scores

7.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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 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-667Improper Locking
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

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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