Local privilege escalation via activity-targeting PendingIntent
Published Feb 15, 2024 · Updated Mar 28, 2025
Privilege escalation in Google Android 14 allows local users to launch an activity with system_server authority through a media button receiver. MediaSessionRecord.setMediaButtonReceiver accepts a PendingIntent targeting an activity and later sends it as system_server, bypassing background activity launch restrictions. Exploitation requires user interaction; a malicious app can cause an otherwise prohibited activity launch with system privileges.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Google Android 14 allows local users to launch an activity with system_server authority through a media button receiver. MediaSessionRecord.setMediaButtonReceiver accepts a PendingIntent targeting an activity and later sends it as system_server, bypassing background activity launch restrictions. Exploitation requires user interaction; a malicious app can cause an otherwise prohibited activity launch with system privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-40111
- Published
- Feb 15, 2024
- Updated
- Mar 28, 2025
- Vendor
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- CWE-441, CAPEC-465, CAPEC-219, T1626
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 15, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 28, 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.
- Affected versionversion=14
- Affected versionversion=14.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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