CVE-2023-21218

Kernel privilege escalation via sparse-memory bounds check

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Kernel privilege escalation in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain kernel privileges through a PowerVR GPU memory operation. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c performs an incorrect bounds check before modifying sparse OS memory, causing an out-of-bounds write. Exploitation requires local access to an affected device with the PowerVR GPU component; no user interaction or additional execution privileges are required.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Kernel privilege escalation in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain kernel privileges through a PowerVR GPU memory operation. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c performs an incorrect bounds check before modifying sparse OS memory, causing an out-of-bounds write. Exploitation requires local access to an affected device with the PowerVR GPU component; no user interaction or additional execution privileges are required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21218
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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 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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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