CVE-2025-26437 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
In CredentialManagerServiceStub of CredentialManagerService.java, there is a possible way to retrieve candidate credentials due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-26437 resides within the CredentialManagerServiceStub component of the CredentialManagerService.java implementation, representing a significant security weakness in the Android framework's credential management system. This flaw manifests as a missing permission check that allows unauthorized access to candidate credentials stored within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the credential management service stub which acts as an intermediary for credential operations, creating a potential attack vector through which malicious actors could exploit the absence of proper authorization controls.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate access control validation within the CredentialManagerServiceStub class where the system fails to verify whether the requesting process possesses the necessary permissions before exposing credential candidate data. This missing permission check creates a scenario where any local process can potentially retrieve sensitive credential information without requiring additional privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the Android security model, specifically targeting the credential management subsystem that handles authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive authentication data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe local information disclosure risk that can be exploited without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the local execution context, meaning that any application or process running on the device with basic system access could potentially leverage this flaw. The lack of user interaction requirements significantly increases the exploitability of this vulnerability, as it can be triggered automatically without any need for social engineering or user deception. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications share the same execution context or where privilege escalation opportunities exist.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system assumes that all processes requesting credential information should be granted access without proper validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1552 Credential Access techniques, particularly focusing on the exploitation of system-level credential storage mechanisms. The vulnerability could enable attackers to access sensitive authentication data that could then be used for further exploitation, potentially leading to privilege escalation or lateral movement within the system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper permission validation within the CredentialManagerServiceStub component, ensuring that all credential access requests undergo rigorous authorization checks before any candidate credentials are returned. System administrators and developers should enforce strict access controls that validate process permissions and user identities before granting credential access. The fix should involve adding comprehensive permission checks that verify the requesting process has appropriate authorization levels, potentially through the use of Android's permission model or custom authorization frameworks. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar permission gaps in other system services, and the implementation should follow secure coding practices that prioritize access control validation in all system components handling sensitive data.