CVE-2023-21262Network attack vector

False microphone-use indication via recording-state race

Published Jul 12, 2023 · Updated Nov 6, 2024

A race condition in Android 12, 12L, and 13 allows attackers to leave the microphone privacy indicator showing an incorrect recording state. In AudioPolicyService::startInput, a silenced client is registered by startRecording and registered again when unsilenced, so reference counting leaves stale AppOps attribution. User interaction is required, and the bounded consequence is a misleading microphone-use indication rather than audio capture or code execution.

CVSS severity3.1
Low
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A race condition in Android 12, 12L, and 13 allows attackers to leave the microphone privacy indicator showing an incorrect recording state. In AudioPolicyService::startInput, a silenced client is registered by startRecording and registered again when unsilenced, so reference counting leaves stale AppOps attribution. User interaction is required, and the bounded consequence is a misleading microphone-use indication rather than audio capture or code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21262
Published
Jul 12, 2023
Updated
Nov 6, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-362
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 6, 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=12
  2. Affected versionversion=12L
  3. Affected versionversion=13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Androidversion=12; version=12L; version=13

Published CVSS scores

3.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

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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