# CVE-2023-20938: Use after free in Android

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

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 28 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** A-257685302, ASB-A-257685302, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-20938, GHSA-2grw-x2mc-x63f, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-20938

## What is CVE-2023-20938?

CVE-2023-20938 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 28 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In binder_transaction_buffer_release of binder.c, there is a possible use after free due to improper input validation. 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-257685302References: Upstream kernel

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20938?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20938?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-20938 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-20938 exists.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/jaf0rk/CVE-2023-20938 (github_poc): https://github.com/jaf0rk/CVE-2023-20938
- A bug trigger for CVE-2023-20938 for Android Binder. (github_poc): https://github.com/0xAtharv/CVE-2023-20938-Public
- https://github.com/byt3quester/CVE-2023-20938-poc (github_poc): https://github.com/byt3quester/CVE-2023-20938-poc

## 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-2023-20938 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20938 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 28 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-20938 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-2023-20938/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20938/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20938
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20938
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20938

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20938/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.