The security update patches a total of 42 vulnerabilities

Aug 7, 2017 20:43 GMT  ·  By

Google started rolling out the August security patch for its Linux-based Android mobile operating system to supported Pixel and Nexus devices, addressing a total of 42 vulnerabilities.

It won't be long until Android 8.0 hits the streets later this month, as Google recently promised, but, until then, there's a new security patch out, for the month of August, which fixes a bunch of minor bug fixes and security issues that were reported since the July security update.

According to Google, 28 issues have been resolved in the 2017-08-01 security patch, and 14 flaws were addressed in the 2017-08-05 security patch. The most critical of these issues is a security vulnerability discovered in the media framework, which could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code using a specially crafted file.

"The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are turned off for development purposes or if successfully bypassed," Google noted in the Android Security Bulletin for August 2017.

These are the devices receiving the August security patch

If you're curious to know if your Android device is getting the August Android security patch, let us tell you that it's rolling out as we speak to Google's Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9 (LTE), Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi), and Nexus Player devices.

While Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus Player are getting separate Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) builds for Verizon, T-Mobile, Rogers, Deutsche Telekom, and Fi carriers, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 (LTE) and Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi) are still receiving Android 7.1.1 builds.

Either way, if you own any of these devices, you should update it as soon as possible to the August Android security patch to that you can be sure your mobile phone or tablet is safe and secure at all times. We always recommend users keeping their apps and mobile OSes up-to-date at all time, so do it now!