Another month, another security patch. Like clockwork on the first Monday of each month, the latest Android security patch is now available. It should start arriving on third-party devices soon, and it’s rolling out now to all supported Pixel devices. The Google Pixel 6 series is yet again behind the rest of the pack, after a couple of months of inconsistent releases for Google's latest flagship series. What's more, this is also a Pixel feature drop update and brings with it the final stable release of Android 12L.
March 2022 Android Security Update Bulletin
The 2022-03-01 security patch level includes one for the Android runtime, six in Framework, one in Media Framework, ten in System. Most of the details about each vulnerability aren’t public yet, so device manufacturers have time to roll out fixes. However, all the security patches are labeled as “high” severity (bar the one in Android runtime), with one that only affects Android 12 (CVE-2021-39708) marked as “critical.”
Google has also released information about the 2022-03-05 security patch level, which includes fixes for Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Kernel components that may not necessarily apply to all devices.
Pixel Update Bulletin/Functional Update
The full changelog for Pixel devices is below which includes fixes and other changes. This is also a feature drop update and sees the advent of the final, stable Android 12L build for Google Pixel devices. Google Pixel 6 devices will be receiving the update later this month.
Full March 2022 changelog
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Fix for issue causing inadvertent "Unplug Charger" notification to appear while charging in certain conditions *[2].
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General improvements for battery & thermal performance in certain conditions *[2].
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General improvements for wireless charging in certain conditions *[3].
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Fix for issue causing Bluetooth to turn on after disabling in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing occasional audio glitches during playback with certain Bluetooth devices *[2].
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Fix for issue preventing Bluetooth to be enabled in certain conditions *[2].
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General improvements for Bluetooth stability & performance *[1].
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Fix for issue causing frame drop during video capture in certain modes and conditions *[2].
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General image quality improvements in camera preview/capture *[2].
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General improvements for camera stability & performance *[2].
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Fix for issue causing display refresh rate to lock at 60Hz under certain conditions *[2].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing a green flicker to appear in certain media apps when playing HDR content *[2].
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Fix for occasional screen flicker in notification shade when dragging from top of screen *[2].
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Fix for occasional white screen flash after display goes to sleep *[1].
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General improvements for Adaptive brightness response in certain conditions *[2].
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Fix for issue causing persistent new device setup prompt to appear in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing screensaver to turn on while toggled off *[1].
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General improvements for keyboard responsiveness & performance *[1].
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Fix for issue causing Active Edge to take a screenshot instead of opening Assistant in certain conditions *[5].
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Fix for issue causing device to occasionally continue vibrating after accepting or dismissing a call *[1].
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Fix for issue preventing auto-rotate to detect device orientation in certain conditions *[2].
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General improvements for Lift-to-wake response & performance *[2].
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General improvements for Quick Tap response & performance *[6].
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General improvements for sensor stability & response in certain conditions *[2].
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Fix for issue causing inadvertent "device corrupt" error to appear in certain conditions *[2].
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Fix for issue occasionally preventing OTA updates to install *[7].
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General improvements for memory efficiency & performance *[8].
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General improvements for system stability & performance *[1].
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Kernel update to 4.9.292 for Pixel 3a & Pixel 3a XL.
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Kernel update to 4.14.257 for Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL & Pixel 4a.
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Kernel update to 4.19.220 for Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5 & Pixel 5a (5G).
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Kernel update to 5.10.66 for Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro.
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Fix for issue causing device to reboot repeatedly after transferring SIM *[9].
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Fix for issue causing network data icon to disappear after sending an MMS message in certain conditions *[1].
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General improvements for network connection stability & performance *[1].
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Add shortcut to open Calendar app from At A Glance on home screen *[1].
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Fix for issue causing "Add a language" list to overlap with title text in Settings *[1].
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Fix for issue causing bottom layer of system navigation to disappear in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing Bubbles info overlay to appear misaligned over apps under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing certain home screen content to display under lock screen when animation duration is customized *[1].
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Fix for issue causing certain home screen icons to appear misaligned in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing certain widgets to render incorrectly on home screen after setting up device from a backup *[1].
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Fix for issue causing delay before available networks appear in Internet Tile under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing error while adding widgets to home screen after downgrading apps *[1].
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Fix for issue causing fingerprint unlock icon to appear invisible on lock screen in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing fingerprint unlock to appear disabled while Smart Lock is enabled under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing incoming notifications to occasionally render over Quick Settings while notification shade is expanded *[1].
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Fix for issue causing incorrect colors or theme to display in Quick Settings in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing longer load times for UI after unlock in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing notification shade to collapse after unlocking device when replying to a notification from the lock screen *[1].
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Fix for issue causing notifications to display as invisible on lock screen under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing occasional animation stutter while using Overview in landscape mode *[1].
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Fix for issue causing occasional flicker on lock screen when tapping to expand notifications *[1].
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Fix for issue causing Picture-in-Picture (PIP) controls to display misaligned from window in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing Picture-in-Picture (PIP) windows to dismiss when flinging across the screen under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing Quick Settings overlay to stay on the screen in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing recent apps to not display in Overview under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue causing the end of the "All Apps" list in Settings to cut off if certain apps are disabled *[1].
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Fix for issue causing wallpaper to appear blurred after locking screen with app drawer open *[1].
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Fix for issue enabling Quick Settings toggles to be tapped from home screen in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing app splash screens to flash on screen without a transition *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing battery charge level to incorrectly display on Ambient display (AOD) *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing blank background on home screen after setting wallpaper *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing device wallpaper to flash before resuming app after unlocking the device *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing gap between app icons to appear in app drawer *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing icons and text in connected devices Settings page to appear misaligned *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing prompt to disable mobile network to appear when scrolling in Network settings screen *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing silent notifications to appear under alerting section in notification shade *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing the launcher to crash when when entering overview in 3-button navigation mode *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing the notification shade to appear transparent in the launcher *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing volume slider overlay to jump to the edge of the screen before disappearing *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally causing widgets with dynamic theming to display using a different color palette after waking device *[1].
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Fix for issue occasionally preventing weather information to display in At A Glance widget on home screen *[1].
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Fix for issue preventing conversation bubble to be dismissed in certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue preventing double-tap to wake from being disabled under certain conditions *[1].
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Fix for issue preventing mirroring device screen to cast display under certain conditions *[1].
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General improvements for performance in certain UI transitions and animations *[1].
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General improvements for split screen support with certain third party launchers *[1].
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*[1] Included on Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[2] Included on Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[3] Included on Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 5, Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[4] Included on Pixel 4 & Pixel 4 XL
*[5] Included on Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4 & Pixel 4 XL
*[6] Included on Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[7] Included on Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5 & Pixel 5a (5G)
*[8] Included on Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5 & Pixel 5a (5G)
*[9] Included on Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a
The March 2022 security update with patch level 2022-03-05 is rolling out for the Pixel 3a series, Pixel 4 series, Pixel 4a series, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, though it would appear that the Pixel 6 series update is delayed (again). The Pixel-specific update addresses a few additional vulnerabilities in the kernel, Pixel software, and both open and closed-source Qualcomm components, the details of which can be viewed here.
Here are the build numbers for the latest Pixel security update:
- Global:
- Pixel 3a: SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 3a (XL): SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 4: SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 4 (XL): SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 4a: SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 4a (5G): SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 5: SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 5a (5G): SP2A.220305.012
- Pixel 6: Waiting
- Pixel 6 Pro: Waiting
Pixel Factory Images ||| Pixel OTA Images
Source: Google
