Overview

CVE-2025-26439 is a significant cybersecurity vulnerability that affects the AccessibilitySettingsUtils.java component. It has the potential to compromise systems and result in data leakage. The flaw poses a serious threat to system administrators and users alike, due to the ease of exploitation and its potential impact on system integrity.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-26439
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Local escalation of privilege, system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Android OS | Versions prior to security patch level 2025-03-01

How the Exploit Works

The flaw lies in getComponentName of AccessibilitySettingsUtils.java, where a logic error enables a malicious Talkback service to be activated instead of the system component. This flaw allows an attacker with local access to escalate their privilege level without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

This is a conceptual representation of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

public class MaliciousTalkBackService extends AccessibilityService {
@Override
public void onAccessibilityEvent(AccessibilityEvent event) {
// Code to perform malicious actions
}
}

In this example, a malicious AccessibilityService (named `MaliciousTalkBackService`) is defined. When an accessibility event occurs, the malicious service is activated, bypassing the intended system component. The malicious code within the `onAccessibilityEvent()` method is then executed, leading to local privilege escalation.

Mitigation Guidance

Affected users are advised to apply the latest vendor security patches, which address this vulnerability. In case patches are not immediately available or applicable, the use of Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation measures. These tools can help in detecting and blocking attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, they should not be considered as a long-term solution, and patching the affected systems should remain a priority.