# CVE-2013-6271: Auth bypass in n/a

> A malicious app can bypass Android device lock restrictions by invoking a specific settings method, allowing unauthorized access to the device.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Dec 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7jx4-gmg6-rjv2

## What is CVE-2013-6271?

CVE-2013-6271 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Google Android, published on 14 Dec 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Android 4.0 through 4.3 allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and remove device locks via a crafted application that invokes the updateUnlockMethodAndFinish method in the com.android.settings.ChooseLockGeneric class with the PASSWORD_QUALITY_UNSPECIFIED option.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-6271?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-6271?

No fix has been published for CVE-2013-6271 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2013-6271 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-6271 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Android Settings Remove Device Locks (4.0-4.3) (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Google Android

- [CVE-2026-58704](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58704/): Google Pixel Improper Authorization (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48543](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48543/): Android Runtime Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-35674](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35674/): Android Framework Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48595/): Android Framework Integer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-32896](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32896/): Android Pixel Privilege Escalation (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-6271 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-6271 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Google Android, published on 14 Dec 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-6271 exists.

Affected product: Google Android. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6271/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6271/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-6271
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6271
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-6271

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6271/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.