Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0494 is an Android SoC memory management driver flaw. A local attacker could gain higher privileges on a device without user interaction. The public bundle does not provide CVSS, named chipsets, or active exploitation evidence.
Executive priority
Treat as a priority for Android device hygiene, especially managed or high-privilege mobile fleets. Business urgency depends on whether affected SoC devices remain unpatched.
Technical view
The CVE describes an integer overflow in a memory management driver causing a possible out-of-bounds write. Impact is local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges required. Product scope is listed only as Android SoC, limiting precise exposure mapping.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Android devices whose SoC vendor implementation included this affected driver and that lack the relevant May 2021 Android security bulletin updates.
Exploitation context
Sources support local privilege escalation and no required user interaction. The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Public details are sparse: no CVSS vector, CWE, chip vendor, driver name, or patch commit is included in the bundle. Avoid assuming exploit availability or affected models without OEM confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Apply OEM or carrier Android security updates covering the May 2021 bulletin.
- Prioritize managed Android devices with outdated security patch levels.
- Check vendor advisories for SoC-specific coverage and fixed builds.
- Restrict untrusted app installation on devices awaiting updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices and current Android security patch levels.
- Compare device patch status against the May 2021 Android Security Bulletin.
- Review OEM advisories for CVE-2021-0494 or Android ID A-183461318.
- Use MDM reporting to identify devices missing applicable updates.
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-2021-0494 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.