CVE-2021-0514
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a use-after-free vulnerability in Android's V8 JavaScript engine caused by a race condition. It allows remote code execution without user interaction or elevated privileges. All Android devices running versions 8.1 through 11 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote attacker gains full control of the device, can install malware, steal data, or join botnets without user interaction.
Likely Case
Malicious website or app exploits the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft or device compromise.
If Mitigated
With proper patching and security controls, the risk is eliminated as the vulnerability is fixed at the system level.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires precise timing due to race condition, but no user interaction is needed.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Bulletin July 2021 patches
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-07-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install the July 2021 security patch or later. 3. Reboot device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript in WebView
androidTemporarily disable JavaScript execution in WebView components to mitigate the vulnerability
adb shell settings put global webview_provider null
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict access to untrusted websites and applications
- Use Android Enterprise or MDM solutions to enforce security policies and isolate vulnerable devices
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version in Settings > About phone > Android version. If version is 8.1, 9, 10, or 11 without July 2021 security patch, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android Security Patch Level is July 2021 or later in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual process crashes in WebView or Chrome components
- Suspicious JavaScript execution patterns
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected network connections from WebView processes
- Suspicious JavaScript payloads in web traffic
SIEM Query:
process_name:chrome OR process_name:webview AND event_type:crash