CVE-2024-43081

Local privilege escalation via instant-app reinstallation bypass

Published Nov 13, 2024 · Updated Nov 16, 2024

Privilege escalation in Google Android 12 through 15 allows local users to bypass carrier restrictions through package reinstallation. InstallPackageHelper.installExistingPackageAsUser accepts the instant-app flag for device-admin and protected packages because its eligibility check covers only system and updated-system packages. A low-privileged local caller can reinstall a protected package as an instant app without user interaction, weakening package protections and gaining elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
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 Google Android 12 through 15 allows local users to bypass carrier restrictions through package reinstallation. InstallPackageHelper.installExistingPackageAsUser accepts the instant-app flag for device-admin and protected packages because its eligibility check covers only system and updated-system packages. A low-privileged local caller can reinstall a protected package as an instant app without user interaction, weakening package protections and gaining elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-43081
Published
Nov 13, 2024
Updated
Nov 16, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
Android
Classifications
CWE-276, T1404
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 16, 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=12
  2. Affected versionversion=12l
  3. Affected versionversion=12L
  4. Affected versionversion=13
  5. Affected versionversion=14
  6. Affected versionversion=15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · Androidversion=12; version=12l; version=12L; version=13; version=14; version=15

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1404Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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