CVE-2023-21192

Local privilege escalation via disabled input method activation

Published Jun 28, 2023 · Updated Dec 4, 2024

Improper input validation in Android 13 InputMethodManagerService allows local users to gain elevated privileges without user interaction. The setInputMethodWithSubtypeIdLocked method accepts an input method identifier without verifying that the method is enabled, allowing a disabled method to be configured. A local low-privileged process can exploit the faulty state transition and obtain elevated privileges on the device.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
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 13 InputMethodManagerService allows local users to gain elevated privileges without user interaction. The setInputMethodWithSubtypeIdLocked method accepts an input method identifier without verifying that the method is enabled, allowing a disabled method to be configured. A local low-privileged process can exploit the faulty state transition and obtain elevated privileges on the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21192
Published
Jun 28, 2023
Updated
Dec 4, 2024
Vendor
Google Cloud
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-20, T1404
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?

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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google Cloud · Androidversion=Android-13

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

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-20Improper Input Validation
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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