CVE-2021-0520 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2021-0520 article provides a detailed insight into a security vulnerability found in Android versions 10 and 11, potentially leading to a local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges.

Understanding CVE-2021-0520

This section delves into the nature of the CVE-2021-0520 vulnerability and its impact on affected systems.

What is CVE-2021-0520?

The vulnerability resides in MemoryFileSystem.cpp and related files in Android, posing a use-after-free risk due to a race condition. This flaw could enable an attacker to locally escalate privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-0520

If exploited, this vulnerability allows an attacker to elevate privileges locally without the need for additional execution rights, potentially leading to unauthorized system access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-0520

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability, including affected systems, the exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a race condition in MemoryFileSystem.cpp, enabling a use-after-free scenario. Exploiting this flaw could result in unauthorized privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Android devices running versions 10 and 11 are vulnerable to CVE-2021-0520. Users of these versions are at risk of local privilege escalation attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

No user interaction is required for exploiting this vulnerability. Attackers can leverage the race condition in memory functions to trigger a use-after-free scenario and potentially gain escalated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines immediate steps to take to secure systems, as well as long-term security best practices and the importance of timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply security patches promptly and follow best practices to mitigate the risk of local privilege escalation attacks leveraging CVE-2021-0520.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing least privilege access, regular security updates, and monitoring for unusual system behavior can help prevent and detect privilege escalation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating Android devices to the latest security patches and versions is crucial to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.