CVE-2018-9553 Use after free in Android

What is CVE-2018-9553?

CVE-2018-9553 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Dec 2018. 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

In MasteringMetadata::Parse of mkvparser.cc there is a possible double free due to an insecure default value. This could lead to remote code execution with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: Android-7.0 Android-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9. Android ID: A-116615297.

Weakness: CWE-415

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-9553?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2018-9553?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-9553 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2018-9553 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-9553 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-j5m3-pf7q-9cvf.