Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-0883 is a high-severity Android SoC issue in a PowerVR kernel driver. A malicious local app could potentially abuse an integer overflow to gain higher privileges on an affected device. No user interaction is required, but the attacker needs local execution first.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority mobile patching issue, especially for fleets with unmanaged Android devices or unclear OEM update status. Business urgency depends on affected device presence and patch availability, not on public evidence of active exploitation.
Technical view
The issue is in PVRSRVBridgeCacheOpQueue in the PowerVR kernel driver. A missing size check can cause integer overflow and out-of-bounds heap access, enabling local escalation of privilege. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no UI, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Android devices using affected SoC firmware with the vulnerable PowerVR kernel driver and without the relevant Android/OEM security update. The provided sources do not identify specific device models, chipsets, or OEM patch levels.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show known active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. Exploitation is local, requires low privileges, and does not require user interaction after the attacker has code running on the device.
Researcher notes
The public evidence is specific about the vulnerable function and bug class but broad on affected products. Avoid assuming exact device models or exploit availability from this bundle alone. Research should focus on OEM bulletin mapping, firmware build status, and PowerVR driver presence.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Android/OEM updates that include the April 2023 Android security bulletin fixes.
- Check OEM guidance for device-specific PowerVR driver or SoC firmware updates.
- Prioritize managed Android devices with PowerVR-based SoCs or unknown SoC status.
- Remove or isolate devices that cannot receive the relevant vendor security update.
- Limit untrusted app installation while patch coverage is being confirmed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices by model, SoC, GPU, and current security patch level.
- Confirm whether each OEM update includes the April 2023 Android bulletin fix.
- Map vendor advisories to CVE-2021-0883 where device-level evidence exists.
- Flag devices with unsupported firmware or missing Android security updates.
- Review mobile management data for high-risk devices still running outdated builds.
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-2021-0883 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.