Android Security Vulnerabilities & CVE Reporting

Understanding CVE Reports for Android Vulnerabilities

A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) report for Android provides standardized identification and documentation of security flaws in the Android operating system, framework, and Google Play services. These reports are crucial for developers, security teams, and device manufacturers to maintain secure Android ecosystems.

Components of Android CVE Reports:

CVE ID: Unique identifier (e.g., CVE-2024-32896)
Android Security Bulletin ID: Monthly patch identifiers (e.g., 2024-08-01)
Severity Rating: Critical, High, Medium, Low based on CVSS
Affected Components: Framework, System, Kernel, Media, Qualcomm, MediaTek components
Android Versions: Specific OS versions impacted
Patch Level: Required security patch date

📱 Android-Specific Security Categories:

Framework

Vulnerabilities in Android framework APIs and services

System

Core OS vulnerabilities affecting system processes

Kernel

Linux kernel vulnerabilities specific to Android

Media

Codec and media processing vulnerabilities

Vendor

Hardware-specific vulnerabilities (Qualcomm, MediaTek)

Google Play

Google Play services and app vulnerabilities

Why Android Security Updates Are Critical

🛡️ Monthly Security Patches

Google releases monthly Android Security Bulletins containing critical patches. Missing even one month's updates can leave devices exposed to publicly known exploits.

📱 Fragmentation Challenges

Android's ecosystem fragmentation means vulnerabilities affect devices differently. Understanding affected versions helps prioritize updates across device fleets.

🔐 Enterprise Security

Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions require current vulnerability data to enforce security policies and compliance requirements.

⚖️ Regulatory Compliance

GDPR, HIPAA, and industry regulations require regular security updates for devices handling sensitive data.

🔄 Android Security Patch Timeline:

Monthly

Security Bulletin Release

Google releases patches on the first Monday of each month

Quarterly

Platform Updates

Major security improvements in Quarterly Platform Releases (QPR)

Annual

OS Version Updates

New Android versions with architectural security improvements

Current Android Threat Landscape & Impact Analysis

⚠️ Critical Android Vulnerability Trends:

Critical Remote Vulnerabilities (CVSS 9.0+)

Remote Code Execution (RCE) in media codecs, Bluetooth stack, and system services allowing complete device compromise without user interaction.

High Severity Privilege Escalations (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

Kernel vulnerabilities, framework permission bypasses, and sandbox escapes that allow apps to gain elevated privileges.

Medium Severity Information Disclosure (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

Data leakage vulnerabilities in app isolation, memory disclosure, and side-channel attacks affecting user privacy.

🔧 Vendor-Specific Vulnerabilities:

Many critical Android vulnerabilities originate in vendor components:

Qualcomm

MediaTek

Samsung

Broadcom

NVIDIA

Vendor patches often lag behind Google's monthly updates, creating security gaps.

🛡️ Android Security Best Practices:

Regular Patching: Apply monthly security patches within 30 days of release
Minimum SDK Version: Target current Android versions with security enhancements
Security Testing: Implement regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
Update Policies: Establish clear update policies for enterprise devices
Vulnerability Monitoring: Subscribe to Android Security Bulletins and CVE databases
App Security: Use Android's security features (SELinux, verified boot, encryption)

📊 How to Use This Android Vulnerability Dashboard:

Filter vulnerabilities by year, Android version, or severity level. Critical vulnerabilities require immediate patching. Check the affected components to determine if vulnerabilities impact your specific devices or applications. Reference Android Security Bulletin IDs for official patch information.

Critical - Patch immediately

High - Patch within 7 days

Medium - Patch within 30 days

Year	Vulnerability	Severity	Affected	Impact	Status
2025	CVE-2025-3245 Memory corruption in GPU drivers; Exploitable via malicious apps; Bypasses hardware protections	Critical 9.2	Android 12 - 15	Bypasses hardware protections, Exploitable via malicious apps, Memory corruption in GPU drivers	Active Exploits
2024	CVE-2024-2201 Bootloader bypass vulnerability; Persistence across factory resets; Used in advanced mobile malware	Critical 8.9	Android 11 - 14	Bootloader bypass vulnerability, Persistence across factory resets, Used in advanced mobile malware	Widely Exploited
2023	CVE-2023-33107 Remote code execution via media files; No user interaction required	Critical 9.8	Android 11 - 13	No user interaction required, Remote code execution via media files	Patched
2022	CVE-2022-20472 Elevation to system privileges; Exploited in targeted attacks	Critical 8.8	Android 10 - 12	Elevation to system privileges, Exploited in targeted attacks	Patched
2021	CVE-2021-1048 Local privilege escalation; Root access possible	High 7.8	Android 8 - 11	Local privilege escalation, Root access possible	Patched
2020	CVE-2020-0022 Remote code execution via Bluetooth; Wormable vulnerability	Critical 9.8	Android 8 - 10	Remote code execution via Bluetooth, Wormable vulnerability	Patched
2019	CVE-2019-2215 Kernel-level compromise; Used by commercial spyware	Critical 8.4	Android 7 - 9	Kernel-level compromise, Used by commercial spyware	Patched
2015-2018	Stagefright Multiple RCE via MMS/media files; Affected 95% of devices at time	Critical 9.8	Android 2.2 - 7.1	Affected 95% of devices at time, Multiple RCE via MMS/media files	Legacy
Last updated: June 2025 \| Sources: Android Security Bulletins, NVD, CVE Details Critical (9.0-10.0) High (7.0-8.9) Legacy