For older Android smartphones, notably those running Android versions 13 and below, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a critical warning. CERT has identified several vulnerabilities in the Android operating system that could put users in serious danger on its official website.
According to CERT, the vulnerabilities discovered in the Android OS are ‘CRITICAL,’ meaning that if they are exploited, there could be serious consequences. The government issues a further warning, stating that if these vulnerabilities are used, it will allow attackers to do a variety of malicious tasks, such as running their own code on the device, obtaining elevated privileges, getting sensitive user data, or even bringing about a denial of service (DoS) attack that renders the device unusable. To put it plainly, these security holes provide hackers the ability to take over your Android smartphone, steal your data, or destroy it.
Affected Android devices
The vulnerabilities that have been identified, according to CERT, mainly impact Android devices that are running older operating systems, namely Android versions 11, 12, 12L, and 13.
The fact that these vulnerabilities are present throughout the Android system rather than being limited to a particular component is troubling. This covers essential parts like the Framework, System, Google Play system updates, and parts connected to various hardware producers including Qualcomm, Unisoc, MediaTek, Arm, and even closed-source parts from Qualcomm.
Fortunately, Google has already made available the Android OS update that fixes the problems. As a result, users are urged to update their gadgets as soon as possible and take the required security precautions to protect their phones and devices.
List of Vulnerabilities
CERT-In discovered a complete list of the vulnerabilities, identified by CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) numbers. Among these vulnerabilities are CVE-2023-20780, CVE-2023-21140, and CVE-2023-28555, to mention a few. For those with an interest in technical details, CERT-In has released an extensive list that illuminates the full extent of these vulnerabilities.
The Consequences
What does this signify, then, for the average user? By taking advantage of these weaknesses, cybercriminals are able to:
- Get unauthorized access to your device.
- Access and perhaps misuse personal information, such as bank account credentials and private images.
- Make the gadget unusable. introduce malicious malware into the ecosystem of devices.
How to protect your smartphone
The following security advice is meant to help users protect their devices from future harmful attacks and vulnerabilities.
- Install security patches as soon as possible: The government alert makes it clear that some vulnerabilities might already be being actively exploited. Therefore, applying security updates through updating the OS is the most direct and efficient way to secure your device. These updates are intended to improve your device’s security by fixing the found vulnerabilities.
- Update Your Android OS Frequently: It’s important to keep your Android operating system up to date. It guarantees that your device is protected against known vulnerabilities by the most recent security features and enhancements.
- Be Cautious with App Download: Especially if they come from unauthorized sources. Stay away from unreliable app stores and only use reputable ones like the Google Play Store. Think carefully about the permissions you give programs as well.
- Examine App Permissions: On a regular basis, check the permissions that your device’s apps have been given. Removing permissions that don’t seem necessary or excessive for the operation of the app is advised.
- Backup Your Data: Ensure that you frequently back up your data to the cloud or an external source. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, this can guarantee the security of your important information.