CVE-2023-21045 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2023
When cpif handles probe failures, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a use after free. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-259323725References: N/A
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21045 resides within the cpif component of the Android kernel, representing a critical security flaw that manifests during probe failure handling operations. This issue constitutes a use after free condition that can potentially result in out of bounds memory reads, creating a significant vector for information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts Android kernel implementations and has been assigned Android ID A-259323725, indicating its classification within the Android security framework. The flaw occurs when the cpif subsystem attempts to manage probe failure scenarios, where improper memory management leads to the exploitation of freed memory locations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes the use after free condition where memory is accessed after it has been freed, and potentially with CWE-125, covering out of bounds read vulnerabilities. This flaw operates at the kernel level where the cpif component manages communication between different kernel modules or drivers, particularly during failure recovery operations. When a probe operation fails, the system should properly handle cleanup of allocated resources, but instead the memory management sequence becomes corrupted, leading to the use after free scenario that allows for unauthorized memory access patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21045 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it requires system execution privileges for exploitation, indicating that an attacker with local access and execution capabilities could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the kernel memory space. The fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be triggered automatically during normal system operations. This type of vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to gain insights into kernel memory structures, potentially revealing sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, system credentials, or other confidential information stored in memory regions that should remain protected.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for system execution and T1005 for data from local system. The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all Android devices running affected kernel versions where cpif functionality is utilized, particularly those with kernel-level communication protocols that require probe operations. The security implications extend to potential privilege escalation scenarios where the information disclosure could be leveraged to further compromise system integrity, as attackers might use the leaked information to craft more sophisticated attacks against other system components. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through kernel updates, while also implementing monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, since the vulnerability's nature makes it difficult to detect through traditional network-based security measures.