CVE-2021-38788: The Background service in Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 is used to manage background applications

This month

HIGH 7.5REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2021-38788 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting android q sdk. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The Background service in Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 is used to manage background applications. Malicious apps can use the interface provided by the service to set the number of applications allowed to run in the background to 0 and add themselves to the whitelist, so that once other applications enter the background, they will be forcibly stopped by the system, causing a denial of service.

Why this priority

High severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.7% (top 23%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2022-01-19
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: allwinnertech

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-01-19 16:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 04:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

allwinnertech android q sdk DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy android-q-sdk || rpm -q android-q-sdk || android-q-sdk --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison android-q-sdk sudo apt install android-q-sdk=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo apt-mark hold android-q-sdk

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list android-q-sdk sudo dnf downgrade android-q-sdk-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add android-q-sdk

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-38788?

android q sdk: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-38788 being exploited?

CVE-2021-38788 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-38788 affect?

CVE-2021-38788 affects android q sdk. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). The Background service in Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 is used to manage background applications. Malicious apps can use the interface provided by the service to set the number of applications allowed to run in the background to 0

How urgent is CVE-2021-38788?

Priority 50/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Android vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-38789 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 is affected by an incorrect access control vulnerability that does not c
CVE-2021-38787 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE There is an integer overflow in the ION driver "/dev/ion" of Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 that could
CVE-2021-38786 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE There is a NULL pointer dereference in media/libcedarc/vdecoder of Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0, whic
CVE-2021-38785 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE There is a NULL pointer deference in the Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0 camera driver /dev/cedar_dev th
CVE-2021-38784 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE There is a NULL pointer dereference in the syscall open_exec function of Allwinner R818 SoC Android Q SDK V1.0

References

← Back to latest CVEs