CVE-2023-45779Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via APEX test keys

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Use of default cryptographic keys in the APEX framework in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain elevated privileges. Some device images retain public AOSP test keys for inner and outer APEX signatures, so forged updates pass verification and load attacker code into privileged processes. Exploitation requires ADB shell access or execution as system or a designated module installer, with no user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of default cryptographic keys in the APEX framework in Google Android SoC allows local users to gain elevated privileges. Some device images retain public AOSP test keys for inner and outer APEX signatures, so forged updates pass verification and load attacker code into privileged processes. Exploitation requires ADB shell access or execution as system or a designated module installer, with no user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45779
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-1394, T1553.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Androidversion=Android SoC

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1394Use of Default Cryptographic Key
T1553.002Subvert Trust Controls: Code Signing Policy Modification

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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