CVE-2026-0020 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2026
In parsePermissionGroup of ParsedPermissionUtils.java, there is a possible way to bypass a consent dialog to obtain permissions due to a permissions bypass. 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 • 03/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0020 resides within the permission handling mechanism of an Android application framework, specifically within the ParsedPermissionUtils.java file where the parsePermissionGroup function operates. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows unauthorized access to system resources through improper permission validation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient verification of permission groups during the parsing process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended consent dialogs that should normally require user interaction before granting sensitive permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the Android permission model's integrity checking mechanisms. When the parsePermissionGroup function processes permission requests, it fails to properly validate the legitimacy of permission group assignments, allowing an attacker to manipulate the permission parsing logic to grant elevated privileges without proper user consent. This bypass occurs at the core level of Android's permission system where permission groups are defined and validated, creating a fundamental weakness in the security architecture that affects how applications request and receive system permissions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for system security. The lack of user interaction requirement means that exploitation can occur silently in the background without any warning to the end-user, effectively rendering the consent dialog mechanism useless for preventing unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can allow malicious applications to access sensitive system resources, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further attack vector establishment.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple permission bypass to represent a fundamental flaw in Android's permission validation architecture. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in permission validation and access control mechanisms, specifically CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-345 for insufficient verification of data authenticity. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1546 for permission manipulation, as it allows attackers to elevate their privileges through legitimate system interfaces that should normally enforce strict access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-0020 should focus on strengthening the permission parsing validation logic within the ParsedPermissionUtils.java file. System administrators and developers should implement immediate code reviews to ensure proper validation of permission group assignments and consider implementing additional verification layers beyond the current parsing mechanism. The recommended approach includes enhancing the parsePermissionGroup function with comprehensive input validation, adding cryptographic verification of permission group integrity, and implementing logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized permission manipulation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits of permission handling code should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could compromise system security through improper access control enforcement.