Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0482 is an Android 11 flaw in the media codec component. A local attacker could potentially gain higher privileges through memory corruption. The provided sources do not show remote exploitation, active exploitation, CVSS scoring, or a named mitigation beyond Android security bulletin remediation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a mobile fleet patching priority for Android 11. It is not evidenced as actively exploited here, but local privilege escalation without user interaction can materially increase impact after initial device compromise.
Technical view
The CVE describes a use-after-free in BinderDiedCallback of MediaCodec.cpp, tracked by Android ID A-173791720. Impact is local escalation of privilege on Android 11 with no user interaction and no additional execution privileges required. CWE and CVSS details were not provided in the source bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Android 11 devices running builds that did not include the applicable May 2021 Android security bulletin fixes or equivalent OEM updates.
Exploitation context
The sources support local privilege escalation, not remote compromise. KEV status is false in the bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation. Practical risk depends on whether an attacker can run code locally on the affected device.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: Android component, affected version, impact statement, and bulletin reference are provided, but no CVSS, CWE, patch commit, exploitability details, or affected OEM build matrix are included. Avoid assuming impact beyond Android 11 unless vendor advisories confirm it.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android or OEM security updates that include CVE-2021-0482 remediation.
- Verify affected Android 11 devices are not stuck on pre-fix patch levels.
- Prioritize managed, shared, kiosk, and high-privilege mobile fleets.
- For unsupported devices, check vendor guidance and plan replacement or risk isolation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 11 devices and record OEM, build, and security patch level.
- Map device patch levels against the May 2021 Android Security Bulletin or OEM advisories.
- Confirm mobile device management reports include all active Android endpoints.
- Review EDR or MDM telemetry for untrusted local app execution on exposed devices.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2021-0482 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-05-01CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.