# CVE-2018-21081: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Attackers can bypass user consent to access runtime permissions of the primary app instance via the secondary Dual Messenger instance on Samsung devices.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pjf7-628v-6r7r

## What is CVE-2018-21081?

CVE-2018-21081 is a critical 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) software. In Dual Messenger, the second app can use the runtime permissions of the first app without a user's consent. The Samsung ID is SVE-2017-11018 (March 2018).

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-21081?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-21081?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-21081 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-21081 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-21081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2018-21081 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-21081 is a critical 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-21081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2018-21081/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-21081/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-21081
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-21081
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-21081

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-21081/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.