Out-of-Bounds Write in Google Pixel (CVE-2021-39793) Enables Local Privilege Escalation
What It Is – A logic error in the Google Pixel firmware permits an out‑of‑bounds write, which can be leveraged by a local attacker to elevate privileges on the device.
Exploitability – The vulnerability is publicly disclosed (CVE‑2021‑39793) and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). No public exploit code has been released, but the flaw is considered exploitable by a knowledgeable attacker with local access.
Affected Products – Google Pixel smartphones (all models shipping with the vulnerable firmware version).
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Access‑Control hygiene – Privilege‑escalation bugs undermine the principle of least privilege, a core control objective across most frameworks.
- Continuous evidence – Demonstrating timely firmware patching and version control provides audit‑ready evidence of due diligence.
- Defensible audit trail – Maintaining logs of patch deployment and device inventory supports a trustworthy posture demanded by enterprise buyers.
Recommended Actions
- Verify the OS version on all Pixel devices and apply Google’s latest security update that addresses CVE‑2021‑39793.
- Update your mobile device management (MDM) policies to enforce automatic patching and to record firmware version as compliance evidence.
- Document the remediation steps in your audit logs to satisfy control‑monitoring requirements.
Source: CISA KEV – CVE‑2021‑39793