Root privilege takeover via embedded Manager APK
Published Jan 2, 2024 · Updated May 9, 2025
Authentication bypass in tiann KernelSU 0.7.1 and earlier allows local users to obtain root privileges through a crafted Android APK. The apk_sign.c path lookup in the kernel module accepts a signed Manager APK embedded in an untrusted native-library directory; incomplete path and signature checks therefore authenticate the wrong file. Exploitation requires removal of the legitimate Manager followed by installation of a nonincremental, debuggable replacement using the official Manager package identifier; successful exploitation grants root privileges.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in tiann KernelSU 0.7.1 and earlier allows local users to obtain root privileges through a crafted Android APK. The apk_sign.c path lookup in the kernel module accepts a signed Manager APK embedded in an untrusted native-library directory; incomplete path and signature checks therefore authenticate the wrong file. Exploitation requires removal of the legitimate Manager followed by installation of a nonincremental, debuggable replacement using the official Manager package identifier; successful exploitation grants root privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-49794
- Published
- Jan 2, 2024
- Updated
- May 9, 2025
- Vendor
- tiann
- Product
- KernelSU
- Classifications
- CWE-290, T1404
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 2, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 9, 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=<= 0.7.1
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
- EmbedAPKBypass proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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