Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0536 is an Android 11 local privilege escalation issue. A flaw involving WiFiInstaller and CertInstaller could let a local attacker delete files CertInstaller can access. The public record says no user interaction and no additional execution privileges are needed, but it does not provide CVSS, CWE, or detailed impact scope.
Executive priority
Treat this as a patch-management priority for Android 11 fleets, not an internet-facing emergency. The issue can support privilege escalation without user interaction, but public evidence does not show active exploitation or complete severity scoring.
Technical view
The issue is described in dropFile of WiFiInstaller as a confused-deputy condition allowing deletion of files accessible to CertInstaller. The affected product is Android 11, with Android bug ID A-176756691. Public data does not include exploit details, CVSS scoring, or a named CWE.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Android 11 devices, especially Pixel or Android builds governed by the June 2021 security bulletin. Devices already updated beyond the relevant vendor security patch level are less likely to remain exposed.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not report known exploitation, and this CVE is not marked in KEV. The prerequisite appears local: an attacker must already be able to interact with the vulnerable Android component path. User interaction is not required according to the CVE description.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Android Pixel bulletin reference. The public bundle identifies the vulnerable component relationship and affected Android version, but omits exploit mechanics, affected OEM variance, CVSS, CWE, and definitive remediation text outside the bulletin reference.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the relevant Android or Pixel June 2021 security update, or later vendor patch level.
- Check OEM guidance for non-Pixel Android 11 devices before assuming patch availability.
- Prioritize managed Android 11 devices that cannot receive current security updates.
- Retire or isolate unsupported Android 11 devices where vendor fixes are unavailable.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 11 devices and record vendor, model, and security patch level.
- Confirm whether each device received the June 2021 Android or Pixel security update.
- Review MDM compliance reports for outdated Android security patch levels.
- Track exceptions for devices without OEM patch availability or upgrade paths.
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-2021-0536 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/pixel/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.