# CVE-2018-9488: Privilege escalation in Android

> A missing SELinux restriction in crash_dump.te allows local attackers to escalate privileges to System level on Android devices.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-533r-f5fc-h9gv

## What is CVE-2018-9488?

CVE-2018-9488 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Nov 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the SELinux permissions of crash_dump.te, there is a permissions bypass due to a missing restriction. This could lead to a local escalation of privilege, with System privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android Versions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9.0 Android ID: A-110107376.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-9488?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-9488?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-9488 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-9488 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-9488 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Android - 'zygote->init;' Chain from USB Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## 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-2018-9488 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-9488 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Nov 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-9488 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-2018-9488/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-9488/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-9488
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-9488
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-9488

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-9488/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.