Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-21093

Path Traversal in Google Android 11.0 … 13.0

Published
19 April 2023
Modified
05 February 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0010 1th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-21093 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Google Android. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked at the 1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In extractRelativePath of FileUtils.java, there is a possible way to access files in a directory belonging to other applications due to a path traversal error. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User…

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interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-228450832

CWE(s)

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-48636Same product: Google Android
CVE-2025-48567Same product: Google Android
CVE-2023-20943Same product: Google Android
CVE-2025-14111Same product: Google Android
CVE-2023-30678Same product: Google Android
CVE-2024-49421Same product: Google Android
CVE-2025-13876Same product: Google Android
CVE-2026-4092Same vendor: Google
CVE-2026-3223Same vendor: Google
CVE-2024-10389Same vendor: Google

Affected Assets

google
android
11.0, 12.0, 12.1, 13.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.3.2

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-22

Validates pathnames and filenames to prevent traversal outside intended directories.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.

PR.AA-05 none match
prevents

PR.AA-05 defines and reviews access policies but does not address code-level pathname neutralization, so neither direction prevents CWE-22.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis.

prevents

Secure SDLC mandates input validation and path sanitization that directly prevent path traversal.

prevents

Application security requirements include rules for safe file handling and canonicalization.

prevents

Secure architecture principles require least-privilege file access and directory isolation.

prevents

Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe path construction and mandate safe APIs.

mitigates

Information access restriction limits which files an application may read or write.

References