Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-21216

Critical

Published: 04 December 2023

Published
04 December 2023
Modified
29 May 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0014 34.1th percentile
Risk Priority 20 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-21216 is a critical-severity Incorrect Default Permissions (CWE-276) vulnerability in Google Android. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked at the 34.1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

In PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem of physmem_osmem_linux.c, there is a possible arbitrary code execution due to a use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege in the kernel with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for…

more

exploitation.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

google
android
all versions

Mitigating Controls

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-276

Access control policy can specify and enforce secure default permissions for resources.

addresses: CWE-276

Guides setting of default permissions to the minimum required level.

addresses: CWE-276

Establishes requirements for appropriate default permissions on system resources as part of configuration management.

addresses: CWE-276

Baseline establishment and updates on install/upgrade ensure correct default permissions rather than insecure ones.

addresses: CWE-276

Requiring the most restrictive settings instead of defaults prevents incorrect default permissions on resources.

addresses: CWE-276

Requires documented processes that include setting and maintaining correct default permissions for configuration items.

addresses: CWE-276

Requires addressing secure default permissions in physical and environmental protection controls.

addresses: CWE-276

Tailoring explicitly overrides or scopes default permission assignments in the baseline to match the system's actual risk and operational needs.

References