CVE-2025-22436 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In multiple locations, there is a possible way to trick a user into disclosing Autofill contents due to a tapjacking/overlay attack. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical security flaw rooted in the manipulation of user interface elements, specifically targeting Android's Autofill service through tapjacking or overlay attacks. In this context, an attacker crafts malicious applications that create invisible or semi-transparent overlays on top of legitimate system dialogs, such as those requesting access to saved credentials for autofilling forms. By positioning these deceptive layers strategically, the application can intercept touch events intended for the underlying dialog box without the user's knowledge. This technique exploits the lack of robust z-ordering enforcement and input event routing restrictions in certain versions of the operating system or specific OEM implementations, allowing malicious code to capture sensitive data that was never explicitly consented to by the end-user.
From a technical perspective, this flaw leverages the principle of clickjacking adapted for mobile environments, often referred to as tapjacking. The attacker does not need to exploit a traditional software bug in memory management or logic flow but rather abuses the graphical user interface hierarchy and input handling mechanisms. When a system dialog appears requesting permission to autofill data from a secure store, the malicious app places an overlay that visually mimics part of the screen while capturing any taps directed at it. If the user interacts with what they perceive as the legitimate prompt or if the attack is automated to simulate interaction without requiring active user engagement beyond initial exposure, the system may proceed with granting access to sensitive autofill contents. This bypasses standard security controls designed to ensure that users are aware of and consent to data disclosure operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, leading directly to a local escalation of privilege in terms of information disclosure rather than code execution rights. Although the prompt mentions "local escalation of privilege," in modern mobile operating systems like Android, this typically translates to unauthorized access to highly sensitive personal or corporate data stored within the autofill framework. This includes usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other personally identifiable information (PII). Since user interaction is not strictly required for exploitation in some automated variants, an attacker could potentially trigger these overlays through background processes or by exploiting race conditions where the overlay appears before the system can properly validate input sources. The compromise of autofill data undermines the core trust model of mobile security, as users rely on this feature to securely manage credentials across applications without manual entry.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standards, specifically CWE-1021: Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames and CWE-847: Information Exposure Through an Error Message if the overlay reveals system details, though primarily it falls under interaction design flaws that facilitate unauthorized data access. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for mobile platforms, this technique maps to T1562.003: Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools via UI manipulation and potentially T1078: Valid Accounts if the stolen credentials are used to authenticate as a legitimate user on remote services. The attack vector is classified under Local Access with No Additional Execution Privileges, indicating that once an app is installed, it can execute this exploit without needing elevated system permissions initially, relying instead on social engineering or automated UI manipulation techniques inherent in the OS's handling of overlay windows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate patching and long-term architectural changes by operating system vendors. Developers must ensure that their applications do not create overlays over sensitive system dialogs unless explicitly permitted by security policies designed to prevent such interception. System-level mitigations involve enforcing stricter checks on window types, ensuring that input events are only delivered to the topmost visible layer if it is a trusted component, and implementing visual indicators when an overlay is present. Users should be educated about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources and keeping their device operating systems updated to receive security patches that address these UI manipulation flaws. Additionally, enabling advanced autofill protections or using hardware-backed keystore solutions can add layers of defense against unauthorized data extraction even if a tapjacking attack succeeds in triggering the dialog.