9.8 High
CVSS3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.6 High
AI Score
Confidence
High
10 High
CVSS2
Access Vector
NETWORK
Access Complexity
LOW
Authentication
NONE
Confidentiality Impact
COMPLETE
Integrity Impact
COMPLETE
Availability Impact
COMPLETE
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
0.006 Low
EPSS
Percentile
78.5%
The Android Security Bulletin contains details of security vulnerabilities affecting Android devices. Security patch levels of 2021-05-05 or later address all of these issues. To learn how to check a device’s security patch level, see Check and update your Android version.
Android partners are notified of all issues at least a month before publication. Source code patches for these issues have been released to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository and linked from this bulletin. This bulletin also includes links to patches outside of AOSP.
The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the System component that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are turned off for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.
Refer to the Android and Google Play Protect mitigations section for details on the Android security platform protections and Google Play Protect, which improve the security of the Android platform.
Note: Information on the latest over-the-air update (OTA) and firmware images for Google devices is available in the May 2021 Pixel Update Bulletin.
This is a summary of the mitigations provided by the Android security platform and service protections such as Google Play Protect. These capabilities reduce the likelihood that security vulnerabilities could be successfully exploited on Android.
In the sections below, we provide details for each of the security vulnerabilities that apply to the 2021-05-01 patch level. Vulnerabilities are grouped under the component they affect. Issues are described in the tables below and include CVE ID, associated references, type of vulnerability, severity, and updated AOSP versions (where applicable). When available, we link the public change that addressed the issue to the bug ID, like the AOSP change list. When multiple changes relate to a single bug, additional references are linked to numbers following the bug ID. Devices with Android 10 and later may receive security updates as well as Google Play system updates.
The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass user interaction requirements in order to gain access to additional permissions.
CVE | References | Type | Severity | Updated AOSP versions |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0472 | A-176801033 | EoP | High | 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0485 | A-174302616 | EoP | High | 11 |
CVE-2021-0487 | A-174046397 | EoP | High | 11 |
The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass user interaction requirements in order to gain access to additional permissions.
CVE | References | Type | Severity | Updated AOSP versions |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0482 | A-173791720 | EoP | High | 11 |
CVE-2021-0484 | A-173720767 | ID | High | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.
CVE | References | Type | Severity | Updated AOSP versions |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0473 | A-179687208 | RCE | Critical | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0474 | A-177611958 | RCE | Critical | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0475 | A-175686168 | RCE | Critical | 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0476 | A-169252501 | EoP | High | 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0477 | A-178189250 | EoP | High | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0481 | A-172939189 | EoP | High | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
CVE-2021-0466 | A-154114734 | ID | High | 10 |
CVE-2021-0480 | A-174493336 | ID | High | 8.1, 9, 10, 11 |
There are no security issues addressed in Google Play system updates (Project Mainline) this month.
In the sections below, we provide details for each of the security vulnerabilities that apply to the 2021-05-05 patch level. Vulnerabilities are grouped under the component they affect. Issues are described in the tables below and include CVE ID, associated references, type of vulnerability, severity, and updated AOSP versions (where applicable). When available, we link the public change that addressed the issue to the bug ID, like the AOSP change list. When multiple changes relate to a single bug, additional references are linked to numbers following the bug ID.
The vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications.
CVE | References | Type | Severity | Updated AOSP versions |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2019-2219 | A-119041698 | ID | High | 11 |
The vulnerability in this section could enable a local attacker to bypass user interaction requirements in order to gain access to additional permissions.
CVE | References | Type | Severity | Component |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2020-29661 | A-175451802 Upstream kernel | EoP | High | TTY |
This vulnerability affects AMLogic components and further details are available directly from AMLogic. The severity assessment of this issue is provided directly by AMLogic.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0467 | A-174490700* | Critical | bootROM |
These vulnerabilities affect ARM components and further details are available directly from ARM. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by ARM.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-28663 | A-174259860* | High | Mali | |
CVE-2021-28664 | A-174588870* | High | Mali |
These vulnerabilities affect MediaTek components and further details are available directly from MediaTek. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by MediaTek.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0489 | A-183464866M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0490 | A-183464868M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0491 | A-183461315M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0492 | A-183459078M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0493 | A-183461317M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0494 | A-183461318M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0495 | A-183459083M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0496 | A-183467912M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0497 | A-183461320M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver | |
CVE-2021-0498 | A-183461321M-ALPS05403499* | High | memory management driver |
This vulnerability affects Unisoc components and further details are available directly from Unisoc. The severity assessment of this issue is provided directly by Unisoc.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-0324 | A-175402462* | High | Framework |
These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm security bulletin or security alert. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-1891 | A-179039763 QC-CR#2766242 [2] | High | Audio | |
CVE-2021-1905 | A-178809945QC-CR#2826864 | High | Display | |
CVE-2021-1927 | A-179040600QC-CR#2827356 | High | Kernel | |
CVE-2021-1906 | A-178810049QC-CR#2835082 | Moderate | Display |
These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm closed-source components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm security bulletin or security alert. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.
CVE | References | Severity | Component | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2020-11273 | A-172348952* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11274 | A-172348993* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11279 | A-172348857* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11284 | A-172348929* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11285 | A-172349029* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11288 | A-172348722* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2020-11289 | A-172348852* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2021-1910 | A-179039901* | High | Closed-source component | |
CVE-2021-1915 | A-172944461* | High | Closed-source component |
This section answers common questions that may occur after reading this bulletin.
1. How do I determine if my device is updated to address these issues?
To learn how to check a device’s security patch level, see Check and update your Android version.
Device manufacturers that include these updates should set the patch string level to:
For some devices on Android 10 or later, the Google Play system update will have a date string that matches the 2021-05-01 security patch level. Please see this article for more details on how to install security updates.
2. Why does this bulletin have two security patch levels?
This bulletin has two security patch levels so that Android partners have the flexibility to fix a subset of vulnerabilities that are similar across all Android devices more quickly. Android partners are encouraged to fix all issues in this bulletin and use the latest security patch level.
Partners are encouraged to bundle the fixes for all issues they are addressing in a single update.
3. What do the entries in the Type column mean?
Entries in the Type column of the vulnerability details table reference the classification of the security vulnerability.
Abbreviation | Definition |
---|---|
RCE | Remote code execution |
EoP | Elevation of privilege |
ID | Information disclosure |
DoS | Denial of service |
N/A | Classification not available |
4. What do the entries in the References column mean?
Entries under the References column of the vulnerability details table may contain a prefix identifying the organization to which the reference value belongs.
Prefix | Reference |
---|---|
A- | Android bug ID |
QC- | Qualcomm reference number |
M- | MediaTek reference number |
N- | NVIDIA reference number |
B- | Broadcom reference number |
5. What does an * next to the Android bug ID in the References column mean?
Issues that are not publicly available have an * next to the corresponding reference ID. The update for that issue is generally contained in the latest binary drivers for Pixel devices available from the Google Developer site.
6. Why are security vulnerabilities split between this bulletin and device / partner security bulletins, such as the Pixel bulletin?
Security vulnerabilities that are documented in this security bulletin are required to declare the latest security patch level on Android devices. Additional security vulnerabilities that are documented in the device / partner security bulletins are not required for declaring a security patch level. Android device and chipset manufacturers may also publish security vulnerability details specific to their products, such as Google, Huawei, LGE, Motorola, Nokia, or Samsung.
Version | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
1.0 | May 3, 2021 | Bulletin published. |
1.1 | May 4, 2021 | Bulletin revised to include AOSP links |
9.8 High
CVSS3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.6 High
AI Score
Confidence
High
10 High
CVSS2
Access Vector
NETWORK
Access Complexity
LOW
Authentication
NONE
Confidentiality Impact
COMPLETE
Integrity Impact
COMPLETE
Availability Impact
COMPLETE
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
0.006 Low
EPSS
Percentile
78.5%