CVE-2021-39815 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-39815, an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the PowerVR GPU driver on Android SoC, allowing unprivileged apps to manipulate memory and potentially escalate privileges.
This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-39815, a vulnerability in the PowerVR GPU driver on Android SoC.
Understanding CVE-2021-39815
CVE-2021-39815 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Android devices.
What is CVE-2021-39815?
The PowerVR GPU driver allows unprivileged apps on Android SoC to allocate pinned memory, unpin it (making it available to be freed), and continue using the page in GPU calls. No privileges are required for exploitation, leading to kernel memory corruption.
The Impact of CVE-2021-39815
This vulnerability can be exploited by malicious apps to elevate their privileges on affected Android devices.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-39815
This section explores the technical aspects of CVE-2021-39815.
Vulnerability Description
The PowerVR GPU driver vulnerability lets unprivileged apps manipulate memory allocation on Android SoC, potentially leading to privilege escalation.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Android
- Versions: Android SoC
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability allows unprivileged apps to allocate and manipulate memory, causing kernel memory corruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-39815.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Android devices to the latest security patches.
- Avoid installing apps from untrusted sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update device firmware and applications.
- Implement app sandboxing to limit potential exploits.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security updates to patch vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-39815.