CVE-2023-20959 Missing authorization in Android

What is CVE-2023-20959?

CVE-2023-20959 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Google Android, published on 24 Mar 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In AddSupervisedUserActivity, guest users are not prevented from starting the activity due to missing permissions checks. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-249057848

Weakness: CWE-862

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20959?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20959?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.

Is CVE-2023-20959 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20959 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 A-249057848, ASB-A-249057848, GHSA-78q9-q3h9-qcp9.