CVE-2023-21228

Kernel privilege escalation via out-of-bounds write

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in the PowerVR GPU kernel component in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain kernel privileges. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c applies an incorrect bounds check before writing sparse-memory state, permitting a write beyond the intended buffer. Exploitation requires local code execution on a device containing the affected SoC component, but needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction.

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

Out-of-bounds write in the PowerVR GPU kernel component in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain kernel privileges. PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem in physmem_osmem_linux.c applies an incorrect bounds check before writing sparse-memory state, permitting a write beyond the intended buffer. Exploitation requires local code execution on a device containing the affected SoC component, but needs no additional execution privileges or user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21228
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
T1404
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 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

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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