# CVE-2021-0593: Privilege escalation in Android

> A confused deputy vulnerability in Android's DevicePickerFragment allows local attackers to invoke privileged broadcast receivers, leading to privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** A-179386068, ASB-A-179386068, GHSA-2r5f-h84q-vwr7

## What is CVE-2021-0593?

CVE-2021-0593 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 17 Aug 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In sendDevicePickedIntent of DevicePickerFragment.java, there is a possible way to invoke a privileged broadcast receiver due to a confused deputy. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10 Android-11 Android-8.1 Android-9Android ID: A-179386068

Weakness: CWE-610 (Externally Controlled Reference to a Resource in Another Sphere)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-0593?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-0593?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-0593 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-0593 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-2021-0593 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-0593 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 17 Aug 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-0593 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-2021-0593/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0593/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-0593
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0593
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-0593

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0593/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.