Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0505 is an Android 11 Settings app flaw that could let a local attacker disable always-on VPN because a permission check was missing. This matters because always-on VPN is often used to force corporate traffic through monitored or filtered paths. The sources do not provide CVSS scoring or evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a policy-control bypass risk, not just a device bug. Prioritize Android 11 devices that depend on always-on VPN for compliance, monitoring, or access control. Urgency is moderate unless the organization has many unpatched managed devices using enforced VPN.
Technical view
The CVE describes a missing permission check in Android Settings affecting Android 11. The impact is local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges and no user interaction required. The named Android tracking ID is A-179975048. Public source data does not include CWE, CVSS, proof-of-concept status, or detailed patch mechanics.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant for Android 11 devices where always-on VPN is used as a security or compliance control. Managed enterprise fleets, BYOD devices, and regulated workflows relying on enforced VPN routing should be prioritized for inventory and patch verification.
Exploitation context
The provided sources say exploitation is local, needs no user interaction, and needs no additional execution privileges. CISA KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source reports active exploitation. The bundle does not describe exploit prerequisites beyond local access/context.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Android bulletin reference. There is no CVSS, CWE, exploit publication, or KEV listing in the supplied bundle. Avoid assuming broader Android versions, specific vendors, or exploit availability without additional authoritative sources.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android security updates covering the June 2021 Android Security Bulletin.
- Verify OEM firmware includes the fix for Android ID A-179975048.
- Prioritize managed Android 11 devices using always-on VPN.
- Use MDM compliance rules to require current Android security patch levels.
- Check device vendor guidance where patch availability differs by model.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 11 devices in enterprise or BYOD management systems.
- Check each device security patch level against the June 2021 bulletin or later.
- Confirm always-on VPN remains enforced by MDM policy after updates.
- Review support status for OEM models still running Android 11.
- Track exceptions where vendor patch evidence is unavailable.
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-2021-0505 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/2021-06-01CVE 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.