Android 12.1 March security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, factory images & OTAs live

Android 12.1 with the March security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. [Update: The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will see SP2A.220305.013.A3 (Global build) OTAs “later this month.”]

The factory images this morning revealed that Android 12L is officially Android 12.1, though that new version number does appear anywhere in the OS/system Settings app.

• Google launches Android 12L for Pixel today; Samsung & Microsoft tablets/foldables this year
• March Feature Drop: Battery widget, richer At a Glance, Night Sight in Snapchat, Pixel 6 rollout delayed
• Here are the 80 issues that Android 12L fixes on Google Pixel phones

There are 19 issues resolved in the Android 12 March patch dated 2022-03-01 and 22 for 2022-03-05. Vulnerabilities range from high to critical, with the most severe relating to the media framework and a remote attacker possibly executing arbitrary code through a crafted file. 

In the most recent Android Security & Privacy Year in Review, Google notes that “no critical security vulnerabilities affecting the Android platform were publicly disclosed without a security update or mitigation available for Android devices.” Additionally, there was an 84% year-over-year jump in security patches during Q4 2018 compared to the prior year.

It will fix the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro Wi-Fi issues, but that update (SP2A.220305.013.A3) is not coming until later this month.

The dedicated bulletin for Google devices lists 41 security fixes.

• Pixel 5a: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 5: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 4a 5G: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 4a: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 4 XL: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 4: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 3a XL: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 3a: Android 12.1 — SP2A.220305.12 — Factory Image — OTA