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CVE Record

CVE-2023-20946: In onStart of BluetoothSwitchPreferenceController.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a conf...

In onStart of BluetoothSwitchPreferenceController.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a confused deputy. This could lead to remote escalation of privilege in Bluetooth settings with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-244423101

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Android issue could let an unauthenticated remote actor gain elevated privileges through Bluetooth settings without user interaction. The public record names Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13. Business urgency is highest for fleets with old Android security patch levels or unclear OEM update status.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for mobile fleets because the vulnerability is critical, remote, and requires no user interaction. The main decision is operational: confirm patch coverage across OEMs and remove uncertainty around unmanaged or unsupported Android devices.

Technical view

CVE-2023-20946 is a confused-deputy permission bypass in BluetoothSwitchPreferenceController.java onStart. The CVE describes remote escalation of privilege in Bluetooth settings with no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8 critical, affecting Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Android 11 through 13 devices that did not receive the Android February 2023 security bulletin fixes or equivalent OEM backports. OEM patch timing may vary, so device patch level must be verified directly.

Exploitation context

The source bundle states no user interaction and no additional execution privileges are needed. It does not include exploit details. CISA KEV status is false, and no provided source confirms active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Public detail is limited to the affected component, method, vulnerability class, Android ID A-244423101, affected versions, and CVSS. No CWE is listed. Do not infer protocol-level reachability, exploit reliability, or vendor-specific patch names beyond the Android bulletin and OEM guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Android February 2023 security updates or OEM-equivalent fixes.
  • Use MDM to enforce a compliant Android security patch level.
  • Prioritize Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13 managed devices.
  • Check OEM advisories for device-specific update availability.
  • Treat unknown patch status as exposed until verified.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory devices running Android 11, 12, 12L, or 13.
  • Check each device Android security patch level in MDM or settings.
  • Confirm OEM bulletin coverage for CVE-2023-20946 where available.
  • Flag devices without February 2023 or later relevant fixes.
  • Review exceptions for unsupported or unmanaged Android devices.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

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CVE-2023-20946 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-20946Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aAndroidAndroid-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.