CVE-2023-21216 Use after free in Android

What is CVE-2023-21216?

CVE-2023-21216 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 4 Dec 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In PMRChangeSparseMemOSMem of physmem_osmem_linux.c, there is a possible arbitrary code execution due to a use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege in the kernel with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

Weakness: CWE-276

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21216?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2023-21216?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2023-21216 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21216 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-291999952, ASB-A-291999952, GHSA-jqgq-x29j-jv5r.