Local privilege escalation via insecure debugging default
Published Jan 2, 2024 · Updated Jun 3, 2025
Privilege escalation in Google Pixel Watch version 11 allows local users to gain elevated access through ADB before setup completes. DeviceVersionFragment.java's checkDebuggingDisallowed uses an insecure default when evaluating debugging restrictions, leaving ADB accessible before Setup Wizard completion. Exploitation requires local access to the watch but no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and it grants elevated device access.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Google Pixel Watch version 11 allows local users to gain elevated access through ADB before setup completes. DeviceVersionFragment.java's checkDebuggingDisallowed uses an insecure default when evaluating debugging restrictions, leaving ADB accessible before Setup Wizard completion. Exploitation requires local access to the watch but no additional execution privileges or user interaction, and it grants elevated device access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-48418
- Published
- Jan 2, 2024
- Updated
- Jun 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Product
- Google Pixel Watch
- Classifications
- CWE-269, CAPEC-233, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 2, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 3, 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=11
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Android DeviceVersionFragment.java Privilege Escalationproof of concept · unverified
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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