Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Android flaw could let a local actor retrieve a trackable identifier without the expected permission check. It is an information disclosure issue, not a remote takeover. User interaction is required, but affected Android 8.1, 9, 10, and 11 devices should be patched through vendor security updates.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate mobile privacy risk. It is unlikely to justify emergency response by itself, but it should be included in mobile patch compliance and legacy Android retirement planning.
Technical view
CVE-2021-0642 is a CWE-862 missing authorization issue in VoicemailSettingsFragment.java onResume. The source states a trackable identifier may be retrieved without permissions. Attack vector is local, requires user interaction, needs no privileges, and impacts confidentiality only. CVSS 3.1 score is 5.5.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Android 8.1, 9, 10, and 11 devices that have not received the relevant Android or OEM security update. Organizations with older unmanaged mobile fleets are more likely to retain exposure.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is local and user-interaction dependent, with no additional privileges required. The disclosed impact is retrieval of a trackable identifier, not code execution.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Android bulletin reference. No exploit details, affected components beyond VoicemailSettingsFragment.java, or standalone workaround are provided in the source bundle. Avoid assuming broader Android versions or active exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android security updates covering CVE-2021-0642 from Google, OEM, or carrier channels.
- Prioritize managed devices running Android 8.1, 9, 10, or 11.
- Check vendor guidance if an OEM build lacks clear patch status.
- Reduce exposure by restricting untrusted app installation on managed devices.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android 8.1, 9, 10, and 11 devices in MDM.
- Check device security patch levels against the August 2021 Android bulletin.
- Confirm OEM or carrier advisories include CVE-2021-0642 or A-185126149.
- Track unresolved devices as mobile confidentiality risk until patched.
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.
CWE-862: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-0642 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N1.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-08-01CVE 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.
Missing Authorization
Missing Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.