CVE-2023-42137Public exploit

Root command execution via symlinked file overwrite

Published Jan 15, 2024 · Updated Jun 17, 2025

Privilege escalation in PAX PayDroid on Android POS terminals through 11.1.50_20230614 allows local users to execute commands as root. The root-level systool_server daemon passes attacker-controlled source and /tmp destination paths to miniunz, follows crafted monitor.bin symlinks, and overwrites arbitrary files. Shell access is required; the published chain disables SELinux enforcement and creates a set-user-ID executable for an interactive root shell.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in PAX PayDroid on Android POS terminals through 11.1.50_20230614 allows local users to execute commands as root. The root-level systool_server daemon passes attacker-controlled source and /tmp destination paths to miniunz, follows crafted monitor.bin symlinks, and overwrites arbitrary files. Shell access is required; the published chain disables SELinux enforcement and creates a set-user-ID executable for an interactive root shell.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42137
Published
Jan 15, 2024
Updated
Jun 17, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-233, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 15, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 17, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8CERT-PLCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-233Privilege Escalation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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