Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is an Android SoC vulnerability in a PowerVR kernel graphics driver. A local app or attacker with basic local access could trigger an integer overflow leading to out-of-bounds heap access and possible device privilege escalation. No user interaction is required.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Android fleets because it can enable local privilege escalation on affected devices. Business urgency depends on whether your deployed devices use the affected SoC or driver and whether April 2023 or later security updates are installed.
Technical view
CVE-2021-0873 affects PVRSRVBridgeRGXKickRS in the PowerVR kernel driver. Missing size validation can cause CWE-190 integer overflow and out-of-bounds heap access. The CVSS 3.1 vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Android devices using affected SoC components with the vulnerable PowerVR kernel driver. The source bundle does not identify specific OEM models, chipsets, or Android releases beyond Android SoC.
Exploitation context
The CVE describes local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. CISA KEV is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The public record gives the vulnerable bridge function, weakness class, Android ID A-270392711, and impact, but not model-level affected device data or exploit details. Validation should stay focused on patch provenance and vendor applicability rather than exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android or OEM security updates covering the April 2023 Android Security Bulletin.
- Check device vendor guidance when patch availability is unclear.
- Prioritize managed Android fleets using affected SoC or PowerVR components.
- Restrict untrusted app installation on devices awaiting updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices by OEM, model, SoC, GPU, and security patch level.
- Confirm installed updates include the April 2023 Android Security Bulletin fix.
- Review OEM advisories for device-specific applicability and patch naming.
- Use MDM reporting to identify devices below the required patch level.
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-190: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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-2021-0873 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2023-04-01CVE reference
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.
Integer Overflow or Wraparound
Integer Overflow or Wraparound represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.