CVE-2023-21216

Kernel privilege escalation via sparse-memory use-after-free

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated May 29, 2025

Use-after-free in the PowerVR GPU kernel component in Google Android SoC allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c accesses freed memory while changing sparse physical-memory mappings. No additional execution privileges or user interaction is required; only devices containing the affected PowerVR GPU component are exposed.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the PowerVR GPU kernel component in Google Android SoC allows local users to execute code with kernel privileges. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c accesses freed memory while changing sparse physical-memory mappings. No additional execution privileges or user interaction is required; only devices containing the affected PowerVR GPU component are exposed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21216
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
May 29, 2025
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-276, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 29, 2025Record 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 SoC

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Androidversion=Android SoC

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1404Exploitation 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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