Android Security

Google releases May 2023 Android Security Bulletin and Google Device Images

The most severe of these issues is a high security vulnerability in the Framework component

Google has released the May 2023 Android Security Bulletin, giving carriers and device makers a fresh set of patches to install.

Though Google puts out the Android security patches each month, the job of actually getting the fixes to end users falls on the telcos and/or device manufacturers themselves. Those partners vary in their ability to release the patches in a timely fashion.

The Android Security Bulletin contains details of security vulnerabilities affecting Android devices. Security patch levels of 05-05-2023 or later address all of these issues.

A vast majority of the security holes have been assigned a ‘high severity’ rating and they can be exploited for privilege escalation, DoS attacks, and information disclosure. 

uk iptv

The vulnerability that was exploited as a zero-day has been described by Google as a moderate-severity kernel flaw that can be exploited for local privilege escalation without user interaction.

The most severe of these issues is a high security vulnerability in the Framework component that could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.

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.

Alongside the bulletin, Google have released a security update to Google devices through an over-the-air (OTA) update. The Google device firmware images have also been released to the Google Developer site. Security patch levels of May 5, 2023 or later address all of these issues.

The tables below contains a list of security vulnerabilities, the Common Vulnerability and Exposures ID (CVE), the assessed severity, and whether or not Google devices are affected. 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 disabled for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.

Android and Google Service Mitigation’s

This is a summary of the mitigation’s 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.

  • Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform. All users are encouraged to update to the latest version of Android where possible.
  • The Android security team actively monitors for abuse through Google Play Protect and warns users about Potentially Harmful Applications. Google Play Protect is enabled by default on devices with Google Mobile Services, and is especially important for users who install apps from outside of Google Play.

Terminology

You will find different types of vulnerabilities listed. Possible types include:

  • RCE – Remote code execution
  • EoP – Elevation of privilege
  • ID – Information disclosure
  • DoS – Denial of service
  • N/A – Classification not available

01-05-2023 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.

CVEReferencesTypeSeverityUpdated AOSP versions
CVE-2021-39617A-175190844EoPHigh11, 12, 12L
CVE-2022-20338A-171966843EoPHigh11, 12, 12L
CVE-2023-20993A-261588851EoPHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21109A-261589597EoPHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21117A-263358101EoPHigh13
CVE-2023-20914A-189942529IDHigh11
CVE-2023-21104A-259938771IDHigh12L, 13
CVE-2023-20930A-250576066DoSHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21116A-256202273EoPModerate11, 12, 12L, 13

Frameworks

The vulnerability in this section could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

CVEReferencesTypeSeverityUpdated AOSP versions
CVE-2023-21110A-258422365EoPHigh11, 12, 12L, 13

System

The most severe vulnerability in this section could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

CVEReferencesTypeSeverityUpdated AOSP versions
CVE-2022-20444A-197296414EoPHigh11, 12
CVE-2023-21107A-259385017EoPHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21112A-252763983IDHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21118A-269014004IDHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21103A-259064622DoSHigh11, 12, 12L, 13
CVE-2023-21111A-256819769DoSHigh11, 12, 12L, 13

Google Play system updates

The following issues are included in Project Mainline components.

SubcomponentCVE
Permission ControllerCVE-2021-39617, CVE-2023-20914

05-05-2023 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Kernel

The most severe vulnerability in this section could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

CVEReferencesTypeSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2023-21102A-260821414
Upstream kernel
EoPHighEFI
CVE-2023-21106A-265016072
Upstream kernel
EoPHighGPU

Kernel components

The vulnerability in this section could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

CVEReferencesTypeSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2023-0266A-265303544
Upstream kernel
EoPModerateKernel

Kernel LTS

The following kernel versions have been updated. Kernel version updates are dependent on the version of Android OS at the time of device launch.

ReferencesAndroid
Launch Version
Kernel
Launch Version
Minimum
Launch Version
A-239830686125.105.10.136
A-239977583125.45.4.210
A-239978386115.45.4.210
A-251538603135.105.10.136
A-251540658135.155.15.72

Arm components

These vulnerabilities affect Arm components and further details are available directly from Arm. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Arm.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2022-4639A-267360595HighMali
CVE-2022-46395A-267357916HighMali
CVE-2022-46396A-259984805HighMali
CVE-2022-46891A-260149319HighMali
CVE-2023-26085A-261701167HighArm NNAPI Driver

Imagination Technologies

This vulnerability affects Imagination Technologies components and further details are available directly from Imagination Technologies. The severity assessment of this issue is provided directly by Imagination Technologies.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2021-0877A-273754094HighPowerVR-GPU

MediaTek components

These vulnerabilities affect MediaTek components and further details are available directly from MediaTek. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by MediaTek.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2023-20694A-271785766
M-ALPS07733998
Highpreloader
CVE-2023-20695A-271788841
M-ALPS07734012
Highpreloader
CVE-2023-20696A-271788842
M-ALPS07856356
Highpreloader
CVE-2023-20699A-271788844
M-ALPS07696073
Highadsp
CVE-2023-20697A-271785768
M-ALPS07589148
Highkeyinstall
CVE-2023-20698A-271785769
M-ALPS07589144
Highkeyinstall
CVE-2023-20726A-271785764
M-ALPS07735968
Highmnld

Unisoc components

These vulnerabilities affect Unisoc components and further details are available directly from Unisoc. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Unisoc.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2022-47469A-273383823
U-2143205
HighKernel
CVE-2022-47470A-273397872
U-2143207
HighKernel
CVE-2022-47486A-273401256
U-2143210
HighKernel
CVE-2022-47487A-273397882
U-2079517
HighAndroid
CVE-2022-47488A-273409059
U-2064944
HighKernel

Qualcomm components

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.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2023-21665A-271879598
QC-CR#3400722
HighDisplay
CVE-2023-21666A-271879644
QC-CR#3400780
HighDisplay

Qualcomm closed-source components

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.

CVEReferencesSeveritySubcomponent
CVE-2022-25713A-258057293HighClosed-source component
CVE-2022-33273A-258057450HighClosed-source component
CVE-2022-33305A-258057367HighClosed-source component
CVE-2022-34144A-258057329HighClosed-source component
CVE-2022-40504A-258057235HighClosed-source component
CVE-2022-40508A-258057197HighClosed-source component

Full details of the May 2023 Android Security Bulletin are available here.