# CVE-2021-0555: Null dereference in Android

> A missing null check in Android's protostream object source allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crash.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** A-179161711, GHSA-6pq3-8569-3687, PUB-A-179161711

## What is CVE-2021-0555?

CVE-2021-0555 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 22 Jun 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In RenderStruct of protostream_objectsource.cc, there is a possible crash due to a missing null check. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-179161711

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-0555?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-0555?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-0555 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-0555 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-2021-0555 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-0555 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 22 Jun 2021. 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-2021-0555 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-2021-0555/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0555/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-0555
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0555
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-0555

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0555/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.