CVE-2026-0015 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2026
In multiple locations of AppOpsService.java, there is a possible persistent denial of service due to improper input validation. This could lead to local denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0015 resides within the AppOpsService.java file of an Android system, representing a critical security flaw that enables persistent denial of service conditions. This issue manifests across multiple locations within the service implementation, suggesting a systemic problem rather than an isolated incident. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify data received by the AppOpsService component, which is responsible for managing application operations and permissions within the Android framework.
The technical flaw operates through improper validation of input parameters that the AppOpsService processes during its normal operational functions. When malicious or malformed input reaches the service, the lack of proper validation allows the system to enter an inconsistent state that ultimately results in denial of service conditions. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require any special privileges or user interaction for exploitation, making it accessible to any local process that can communicate with the AppOpsService. The attack vector leverages the service's failure to properly handle unexpected input sequences, potentially causing the service to crash or become unresponsive, thereby disrupting normal system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to persistent denial of service conditions that may require system reboot to resolve. Since the vulnerability exists within core system components that manage application permissions and operations, exploitation could affect the entire Android operating system's ability to properly manage app behaviors and user permissions. This creates a cascading effect where legitimate applications may be unable to function correctly, and the system's security model becomes compromised. The lack of user interaction requirements means that automated attacks could be developed that exploit this vulnerability without any human intervention, potentially leading to widespread service degradation across affected devices.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design. From an ATT&CK perspective, this represents a privilege escalation and denial of service technique that can be categorized under T1499.004 for network denial of service and potentially T1068 for local privilege escalation. The persistent nature of the denial of service makes this particularly dangerous in environments where system reliability is critical, such as enterprise deployments or devices with mission-critical functions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including code reviews to strengthen input validation, deployment of security patches, and monitoring for anomalous system behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in core system services and highlights the potential for seemingly minor flaws to create significant operational impacts. The fact that this issue affects multiple locations within the AppOpsService.java file suggests that the underlying validation patterns may be consistently flawed throughout the codebase, requiring comprehensive remediation rather than isolated fixes. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile device security, where users may not be aware of ongoing exploitation attempts. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability and conduct thorough security assessments of similar system components to identify potential analogous flaws that could create similar security risks.