CVE-2023-21089 Privilege escalation in Android

What is CVE-2023-21089?

CVE-2023-21089 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 19 Apr 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In startInstrumentation of ActivityManagerService.java, there is a possible way to keep the foreground service alive while the app is in the background. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-237766679

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21089?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2023-21089?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2023-21089 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21089 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-237766679, ASB-A-237766679, GHSA-vrm8-gqmc-9xr9.