Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0541 is an Android 11 NFC server flaw that could expose information through an out-of-bounds read. The source says exploitation requires System execution privileges and no user interaction. That makes this more relevant to already-compromised or highly privileged local contexts than broad remote attack exposure.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate mobile hygiene issue. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but it can matter where Android 11 devices are unpatched or already exposed to privileged compromise chains.
Technical view
The issue is in phNxpNciHal_ext_process_nfc_init_rsp in phNxpNciHal_ext.cc. A missing bounds check can cause an out-of-bounds read, leading to local information disclosure in the NFC server. The provided record identifies Android 11 as affected and provides no CVSS score or CWE classification.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Android 11 devices containing the affected NFC server code and lacking the relevant vendor security update. Exact device and OEM exposure is not established in the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The provided CVE text says System execution privileges are needed and user interaction is not needed. The source bundle does not cite public exploitation, and KEV status is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, exploit detail, or broad OEM matrix is included. Analysis should stay tied to the Android 11 NFC server information disclosure description and the referenced Pixel security bulletin.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android or Pixel security updates that include CVE-2021-0541.
- Check OEM or carrier guidance for non-Pixel Android 11 devices.
- Prioritize devices with NFC enabled and delayed security patching.
- Retire or isolate Android 11 devices that cannot receive vendor updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 11 devices and their vendor security patch status.
- Confirm whether device advisories explicitly include CVE-2021-0541.
- Review mobile fleet telemetry for unpatched Android 11 endpoints.
- Check whether NFC is enabled where operationally unnecessary.
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-2021-0541 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.