CVE-2021-39736 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-39736 article provides details about a vulnerability in Android kernel that could allow local privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2021-39736

This section explains the impact and technical details of CVE-2021-39736.

What is CVE-2021-39736?

CVE-2021-39736 is a vulnerability in prepare_io_entry and prepare_response of lwis_ioctl.c and lwis_periodic_io.c in Android kernel, leading to a possible out-of-bounds write due to an integer overflow. It requires system execution privileges for local escalation of privilege.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39736

The vulnerability could be exploited without user interaction, potentially allowing an attacker to escalate their privileges on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39736

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Android kernel arises from an integer overflow in specific functions, enabling an out-of-bounds write.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Android
Versions Affected: Android kernel

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability requires local access to the system and system execution privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-39736.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement the latest security patches from the official Android security bulletin.
Regularly monitor security advisories from Android for updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing on the Android system.
Enforce the principle of least privilege to restrict system access.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by Google for Android.
Apply timely updates to the Android kernel to address security vulnerabilities.