CVE-2021-1048: Android Kernel Use-After-Free Vulnerability
- Is it exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 23 May 2022, 159 days after the CVE record was published.
- How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?
- 1.1%
EPSS score, percentile 64.4 of all scored records
- How severe?
- 7.8 High
CVSS v3.1 base score, from CISA's enrichment of the record
- What should I do?
Required action (CISA), due 13 Jun 2022: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
- Which versions are affected?
Affected: Android kernel
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
What to do
Required action, set by CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA due date for this action: 13 June 2022.
Advisories and patches
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
Linked from CISA's catalog entry
Affected products and versions
As listed in the CVE record.
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | Android kernel |
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
About this vulnerability
Android kernel contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.
Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA added CVE-2021-1048 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 23 May 2022.
- CISA's ransomware flag for this entry is "Unknown": no evidence of ransomware use in the catalog, which is not proof of none.
- The due date CISA sets for the required action is 13 Jun 2022.
- The CVE record was published on 15 Dec 2021, 159 days before it was added to KEV.
- The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High), taken from CISA's enrichment of the record.
- FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.1% (percentile 64.4), as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Description
In ep_loop_check_proc of eventpoll.c, there is a possible way to corrupt memory due to a use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-204573007References: Upstream kernel
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Weakness
- CWE-416: Use After Free
CWE and CAPEC are maintained by MITRE; the entries are those named in the CVE record and the KEV entry.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 Dec 2021 | CVE record published |
| 23 May 2022 | Added to CISA KEV |
| 13 Jun 2022 | CISA due date for the required action |
| 21 Oct 2025 | CVE record last updated |
References
More exploited Android vulnerabilities
- CVE-2025-48595: Android Framework Integer Overflow Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-48572: Android Framework Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-48633: Android Framework Information Disclosure Vulnerability
- CVE-2025-48543: Android Runtime Use-After-Free Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-43093: Android Framework Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- CVE-2024-36971: Android Kernel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability