Do you own an Android smartphone? Be vigilant about a new critical security vulnerability uncovered by Google.
In its most recent security bulletin, Google reported no less than 85 vulnerabilities within the Android ecosystem. One flaw, specifically CVE-2023-40088, is particularly problematic. A solution is already available, but it might take several days or weeks to reach our smartphones.
Indeed, Google released a fix via the AOSP (Android Open Source Project). However, it’s now in the hands of the manufacturers to ensure this update reaches their various devices as soon as possible.
This security vulnerability affects Android versions 11, 12, and 13; the latest version, Android 14, is currently being rolled out.
A Critical Vulnerability Present in Millions of Android Smartphones
Google describes this as “a critical security vulnerability in the System component that could enable remote code execution without requiring additional execution privileges.” This means a hacker can exploit the flaw without the victim having to take any prior action.
At this time, Google hasn’t clarified whether the CVE-2023-40088 flaw has already been exploited. As always, the tech giant encourages all Android users to apply security updates as soon as they become available.
To check for available updates on your Android smartphone, navigate to the Settings menu, then to System, and finally, search for updates via the System/Software Update tab.