CVE-2025-36904 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
WLAN in Android before 2025-09-05 on Google Pixel devices allows elevation of privilege, aka A-396458384.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
This vulnerability affects the wireless local area network implementation within Android operating systems, specifically targeting Google Pixel devices released prior to the 2025-09-05 security patch cycle. The flaw resides in the WLAN subsystem's privilege management mechanisms, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to escalate their access rights from standard user level to system level privileges. The vulnerability identifier A-396458384 indicates this issue was tracked internally by Google's security team and represents a critical weakness in the device's security architecture.
The technical root cause of this privilege escalation vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the WLAN driver or framework components. When processing wireless network configuration data or handling network connection requests, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and authorization level of incoming requests. This weakness allows an attacker with local access to potentially manipulate system resources through crafted network packets or malicious wireless configurations that exploit the insufficient privilege checking mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to gain full system control over affected Pixel devices. Once elevated to system privileges, an attacker could modify critical system files, install malicious applications, access all user data, and potentially compromise the device's integrity. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the September 2025 security update, making a substantial portion of the Pixel device ecosystem susceptible to exploitation. This represents a significant threat vector since wireless networks are frequently accessed and can be exploited through various attack surfaces including public Wi-Fi networks, malicious access points, or compromised wireless infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that wireless network access is pervasive and often less scrutinized than other network interfaces. Organizations and users should immediately apply the 2025-09-05 security patches released by Google to mitigate this risk. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious wireless activity and consider deploying network segmentation strategies to limit potential exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of timely security updates and proper access control implementation in mobile operating systems.