CVE-2018-21042 Missing authorization in n/a

What is CVE-2018-21042?

CVE-2018-21042 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Google Android, published on 8 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An issue was discovered on Samsung mobile devices with N(7.x), O(8.x), and P(9.0) software. Dual Messenger allows installation of an arbitrary APK with resultant privileged code execution. The Samsung ID is SVE-2018-13299 (December 2018).

Weakness: CWE-862

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-21042?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2018-21042?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-21042 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.

Is CVE-2018-21042 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-21042 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Google Android

• CVE-2026-58704 Google Pixel Improper Authorization Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2025-48543 Android Runtime Use-After-Free Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2023-35674 Android Framework Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2025-48595 Android Framework Integer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2024-32896 Android Pixel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.1

All Google Android vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-g4c8-4gxr-pvhq.