CVE-2011-1823 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The vold volume manager daemon on Android 3.0 and 2.x before 2.3.4 trusts messages that are received from a PF_NETLINK socket, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code and gain root privileges via a negative index that bypasses a maximum-only signed integer check in the DirectVolume::handlePartitionAdded method, which triggers memory corruption, as demonstrated by Gingerbreak.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1823 resides within the vold volume manager daemon component of Android operating systems version 3.0 and earlier 2.x releases before 2.3.4. This critical flaw demonstrates a fundamental security weakness in how the system processes network messages received through PF_NETLINK sockets, creating a pathway for local privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the DirectVolume::handlePartitionAdded method where a critical signed integer comparison fails to properly validate input parameters, allowing attackers to exploit a negative index value that bypasses the intended maximum-only signed integer check.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic integer overflow condition within the volume management subsystem. When the vold daemon receives messages through the PF_NETLINK socket interface, it fails to properly validate the index values contained within these messages. The DirectVolume::handlePartitionAdded method performs a signed integer comparison that only checks against an upper bound without properly validating that the index value remains within acceptable positive bounds. This oversight allows a malicious local user to craft a specially formatted message containing a negative index value that, when processed, causes memory corruption within the vold daemon's memory management structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1823 is severe and directly enables local privilege escalation to root privileges, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the entire Android security model. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively bypassing all Android security boundaries and gaining complete control over the device. The demonstration of this vulnerability through the Gingerbreak exploit showcases how easily this flaw can be weaponized in practice, making it particularly dangerous for devices running vulnerable Android versions. The attack vector requires only local access to the device since the vulnerability operates within the trusted vold daemon process that runs with elevated privileges.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which describes "Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound)" and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" within the enterprise security framework. This classification indicates that the vulnerability represents a privilege escalation attack that leverages a specific software flaw to gain elevated system access. The exploitation path involves a local user with access to the device's network interface or ability to send PF_NETLINK messages, which represents a common attack vector in mobile security contexts where local privilege escalation can lead to complete device compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1823 require immediate system updates to Android 2.3.4 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched through proper input validation and signed integer boundary checks. System administrators should ensure all devices are updated to the latest security patches and implement monitoring for suspicious network activity on PF_NETLINK sockets. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper validation of index values received from network messages, ensuring that negative indices are properly rejected and that all integer comparisons include both upper and lower bound validation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user access to system processes that handle network messages, reducing the attack surface for such privilege escalation exploits.