# CVE-2021-1048: Android Kernel Use-After-Free

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Android kernel allows local attackers to escalate privileges without user interaction.

- **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:** Yes, since 23 May 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** A-204573007, ASB-A-204573007, DEBIAN-CVE-2021-1048, GHSA-r535-rfwp-fm57, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-1048

## What is CVE-2021-1048?

CVE-2021-1048 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 15 Dec 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In ep_loop_check_proc of eventpoll.c, there is a possible way to corrupt memory due to a use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-204573007References: Upstream kernel

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-1048?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-1048?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 13 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2021-1048 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-1048 in the wild since at least 23 May 2022.

## 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-2021-1048 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-1048 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 15 Dec 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-1048 in the wild since at least 23 May 2022.

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-2021-1048/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1048/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-1048
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1048
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-1048

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-1048/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.