Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0548 is an Android 11 local privilege escalation issue in NFC-related code. The source says a missing bounds check may allow an out-of-bounds write. It does not require user interaction or additional execution privileges, but the bundle does not show active exploitation or a CVSS score.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority mobile hygiene issue for Android 11 fleets, especially where devices run unmanaged apps or lack timely security updates. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation.
Technical view
The issue is in rw_i93_send_to_lower of rw_i93.cc. A missing bounds check can cause an out-of-bounds write, potentially enabling local escalation of privilege on Android 11. The provided sources do not include exploit details, CVSS metrics, CWE mapping, or complete remediation language.
Likely exposure
Exposure is source-confirmed for Android 11. The bundle references the June 2021 Pixel security bulletin, so device patch level and OEM update status are the key exposure questions.
Exploitation context
The source states local escalation of privilege is possible with no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. There is no KEV listing and no cited evidence of active exploitation in the provided bundle.
Researcher notes
Evidence is narrow: Android 11, rw_i93_send_to_lower, out-of-bounds write, local privilege escalation, no user interaction. The bundle does not provide root-cause diff, exploitability conditions, or affected OEM build ranges beyond Android 11.
Mitigation direction
- Check Android and device OEM guidance for CVE-2021-0548 remediation.
- Prioritize updating Android 11 devices that lack relevant June 2021 security fixes.
- Track unsupported Android 11 devices as residual risk.
- Limit exposure from untrusted local apps where patching is delayed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 11 devices and record security patch levels.
- Compare device patch status against Android or OEM advisories for June 2021.
- Confirm whether managed Pixel devices received the relevant bulletin update.
- Document devices that cannot receive vendor remediation.
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-2021-0548 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.