CVE-2023-21234

Local privilege escalation via missing permission check

Published Aug 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 9, 2024

Missing authorization in Google Android 11 and 13 allows local users to enable developer options without entering the lockscreen PIN. ChooseLockSettingsHelper.java's launchConfirmationActivity selects a confirmation path without enforcing the permission check required before developer options are enabled. Exploitation requires local access to the device's Settings interface, needs no user interaction, and bypasses only the lockscreen-PIN gate documented for this operation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Google Android 11 and 13 allows local users to enable developer options without entering the lockscreen PIN. ChooseLockSettingsHelper.java's launchConfirmationActivity selects a confirmation path without enforcing the permission check required before developer options are enabled. Exploitation requires local access to the device's Settings interface, needs no user interaction, and bypasses only the lockscreen-PIN gate documented for this operation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21234
Published
Aug 14, 2023
Updated
Oct 9, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-862
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 9, 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=11
  2. Affected versionversion=13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Androidversion=11; version=13

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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

CWE-862Missing Authorization

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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