CVE-2026-0047 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2026
In dumpBitmapsProto of ActivityManagerService.java, there is a possible way for an app to access private information due to a missing permission check. 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-2026-0047 resides within the ActivityManagerService.java component of Android systems, specifically in the dumpBitmapsProto method where a critical permission oversight exists. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that allows unauthorized applications to access private information that should be restricted to system-level processes or specific privileged entities. The missing permission check creates an unintended access path that bypasses normal security boundaries typically enforced by the Android permission model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authorization validation within the dumpBitmapsProto method which is designed to serialize bitmap data for debugging and system monitoring purposes. When this method executes without verifying whether the calling process possesses the necessary permissions, it inadvertently exposes sensitive bitmap information that may contain private user data, application state information, or system resources that should remain protected. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that aligns with CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where applications run with varying levels of system access. The exploitation occurs entirely within the device's local environment, meaning that any application with sufficient privileges to call the ActivityManagerService can potentially access restricted bitmap data. This creates a scenario where malicious applications could gather sensitive information from other running processes, potentially including personal data, application state, or even cryptographic keys stored in bitmap formats.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides a pathway for attackers to gather intelligence about other applications and system components. The lack of user interaction requirement means that exploitation can occur automatically without any user awareness or consent, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains where the gathered information is used to facilitate further exploitation. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 which involves executing malicious code through legitimate system processes, and T1074 which focuses on data staging through system information gathering.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-0047 should focus on implementing proper permission checks within the dumpBitmapsProto method to ensure that only authorized processes can access the bitmap data serialization functionality. System administrators should ensure that all Android devices are updated with patches that address this specific authorization bypass. Application developers should review their code to ensure that any calls to system services that might expose sensitive data include appropriate permission verification. The fix should involve adding explicit permission checks that validate whether the calling process has the necessary system-level privileges before allowing access to the bitmap data, effectively closing the unauthorized access path that currently exists in the implementation.