Google Android 11.0/12.0 btm_sec.cc btm_sec_encrypt_change downgrade

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Google Android 11.0/12.0. This affects the function btm_sec_encrypt_change of the file btm_sec.cc. Such manipulation leads to downgrade. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2023-21115. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Google Android 11.0/12.0 (Smartphone Operating System). It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function btm_sec_encrypt_change of the file btm_sec.cc. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a downgrade vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-757. A protocol or its implementation supports interaction between multiple actors and allows those actors to negotiate which algorithm should be used as a protection mechanism such as encryption or authentication, but it does not select the strongest algorithm that is available to both parties. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In btm_sec_encrypt_change of btm_sec.cc, there is a possible way to downgrade the link key type due to improperly used crypto. This could lead to paired device escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-12 Android-12LAndroid ID: A-258834033

The weakness was presented 06/16/2023 as A-258834033. The advisory is shared for download at source.android.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-21115 since 11/03/2022. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/13/2025). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future.The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1562.010.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2023-25283). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Smartphone Operating System

Vendor

• Google

Name

• Android

Version

• 11.0
• 12.0

License

• free

Website

• Vendor: https://www.google.com/

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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