Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0498 is an Android SoC memory management driver flaw. A local attacker could potentially turn existing access on a device into higher privileges. The source notes no user interaction is needed, but does not provide CVSS, affected device models, or exploitation evidence.
Executive priority
Treat this as important for Android device fleets, especially unmanaged or outdated devices. Business urgency depends on whether your deployed models received the May 2021 Android SoC fixes.
Technical view
The issue is described as memory corruption caused by a double free in an Android memory management driver. The documented impact is local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges required. Available sources do not identify specific chipsets, devices, exploit maturity, or a named CWE.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Android devices using affected Android SoC components. The provided sources do not identify specific OEMs, models, chipsets, or Android releases beyond Android SoC.
Exploitation context
The source describes local privilege escalation, not remote compromise. It says user interaction is not required, but CISA KEV status is false and the bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Key gaps remain: no CVSS, no CWE, no affected chipset list, and no exploit detail in the supplied sources. Validate exposure through OEM patch matrices rather than assuming all Android devices are affected.
Mitigation direction
- Review the Android May 2021 security bulletin and OEM advisories for affected devices.
- Apply vendor firmware or Android security updates that address CVE-2021-0498.
- Prioritize devices with outdated Android security patch levels.
- Retire or isolate devices no longer receiving OEM security updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices and record OEM, model, SoC, and security patch level.
- Check whether device patch levels include the May 2021 Android security bulletin or later relevant fixes.
- Confirm OEM advisories mention CVE-2021-0498 or the referenced Android ID A-183461321.
- Monitor mobile EDR and device logs for suspicious local privilege escalation indicators.
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-2021-0498 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.