CVE-2024-39441: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2024-39441 Overview

CVE-2024-39441 is a missing permission check vulnerability in the Wi-Fi display component shipped on Android devices powered by Unisoc chipsets. A local attacker can exploit the flaw to escalate privileges without requiring additional execution rights or user interaction. The issue affects Android 13, 14, and 15 running on a broad range of Unisoc platforms, including the S8000, T310, T606, T610, T612, T616, T618, T750, T760, T765, T770, and T820 System-on-Chip (SoC) families. Unisoc published a security advisory acknowledging the flaw.

Critical Impact
A local unprivileged app can gain elevated privileges on affected Unisoc-based Android devices, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of device data and services.

Affected Products

Google Android 13.0, 14.0, and 15.0
Unisoc SoCs: S8000, T310, T606, T610, T612, T616, T618
Unisoc SoCs: T750, T760, T765, T770, T820

Discovery Timeline

2025-02-26 - CVE-2024-39441 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-39441

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Wi-Fi display subsystem provided by Unisoc for Android. Wi-Fi display (commonly implemented via Miracast) allows a device to project audio and video to an external receiver over Wi-Fi Direct. The affected component fails to enforce a required permission check before executing privileged operations. An unprivileged application installed on the device can invoke the exposed interface and perform actions that should be restricted to system-level callers. The result is local privilege escalation without additional execution privileges and without user interaction.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing authorization check in the Wi-Fi display service. The service exposes functionality to callers on the device but does not validate whether the caller holds the required signature or system permission. This design flaw maps to broken access control in the Android Interprocess Communication (IPC) surface.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access, typically achieved by installing a malicious application on the device. The attacker's app communicates with the vulnerable Wi-Fi display interface using standard Android IPC mechanisms such as Binder. Because no additional permissions are required and no user interaction is needed, any app on the device can attempt exploitation. No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been published for CVE-2024-39441. See the Unisoc Security Announcement for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39441

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected invocations of Wi-Fi display or Miracast services by non-system applications.
Applications requesting or interacting with Binder interfaces exposed by the Unisoc Wi-Fi display stack without holding system-level permissions.
Apps performing privileged operations shortly after triggering Wi-Fi display APIs.

Detection Strategies

Inventory mobile devices to identify those running Android 13 through 15 on affected Unisoc SoCs, and prioritize patch verification for those endpoints.
Use mobile threat defense telemetry to flag applications that access low-level wireless display services outside of expected user workflows.
Review app permissions and behavior for sideloaded or newly installed applications on affected devices.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor Android security patch level (ro.build.version.security_patch) on managed devices and alert on devices missing the Unisoc-provided fix.
Track vendor advisories from Unisoc and downstream device manufacturers for release of the corresponding firmware update.
Ingest mobile device logs into a centralized analytics platform to correlate suspicious IPC activity with privilege escalation attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39441

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the security update from the device manufacturer (OEM) once available, based on the fix referenced in the Unisoc security announcement.
Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources and enforce this policy through Mobile Device Management (MDM).
Audit installed applications on affected devices and remove any that are unnecessary or unverified.

Patch Information

Unisoc has published a security announcement addressing this vulnerability. Device manufacturers using affected Unisoc chipsets must integrate the vendor patch into their Android builds and distribute it through their normal update channels. Refer to the Unisoc Security Announcement for authoritative patch details.

Workarounds

Disable Wi-Fi display and Miracast functionality on managed devices where the feature is not required for business operations.
Enforce an MDM policy that blocks sideloading and restricts app installations to vetted enterprise or Google Play sources.
Isolate affected devices from sensitive corporate resources until the OEM patch has been applied.

bash

# Example MDM/adb configuration to verify Android security patch level
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
adb shell getprop ro.product.board
adb shell getprop ro.hardware