Google Android 12.0/13.0 attribution_processor.cc OnWakelockReleased use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.9$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Google Android 12.0/13.0. Impacted is the function OnWakelockReleased of the file attribution_processor.cc. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2023-21096. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Google Android 12.0/13.0 (Smartphone Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function OnWakelockReleased of the file attribution_processor.cc. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In OnWakelockReleased of attribution_processor.cc, there is a use after free that could lead to remote code execution with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-254774758

The weakness was presented 04/20/2023 as A-254774758. The advisory is available at source.android.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-21096 since 11/03/2022. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/10/2025). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at EUVD (EUVD-2023-25264) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2023-0841). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Samsung Exynos
  • Samsung Android

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.9

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/03/2022 🔍
04/20/2023 +167 days 🔍
04/20/2023 +0 days 🔍
09/10/2025 +874 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: google.com

Advisory: A-254774758
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-21096 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-21096
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-226858
EUVD: 🔍
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2023-0841 - Samsung Android und Samsung Exynos: Mehrere Schwachstellen

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150917

Entryinfo

Created: 04/20/2023 07:29
Updated: 09/10/2025 23:54
Changes: 04/20/2023 07:29 (42), 05/14/2023 09:33 (11), 09/04/2025 02:27 (22), 09/10/2025 23:54 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to know what is going to be exploited?

We predict KEV entries!