CVE-2026-0112 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2026
In vpu_open_inst of vpu_ioctl.c, there is a possible use after free due to a race condition. 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 • 03/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0112 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the video processing unit driver's ioctl implementation, specifically in the vpu_open_inst function located in vpu_ioctl.c. This flaw arises from a race condition that occurs during concurrent access to shared kernel memory structures, creating a window where freed memory can be accessed or reused before proper deallocation is completed. The vulnerability exists at the kernel level within the vpu driver responsible for handling video processing unit operations, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within the privileged execution context of the operating system kernel.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the vpu_open_inst function, which fails to adequately protect shared data structures from concurrent access patterns. When multiple processes or threads attempt to access the same vpu instance simultaneously, the race condition allows one thread to free memory while another thread attempts to access the same memory location, resulting in a use-after-free scenario. This condition is classified under CWE-416 as an "Use After Free" vulnerability, where memory that has been freed is accessed or reused, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require any user interaction or additional privileges beyond normal system access, making it particularly concerning for local privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable full system compromise through local privilege escalation. An attacker with normal user privileges can exploit this condition to gain elevated privileges within the kernel space, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges. This represents a significant security risk as it bypasses typical user access controls and could enable attackers to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction and can be triggered through normal system operations involving the vpu driver, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-0112 should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the vpu driver to prevent race conditions during memory allocation and deallocation processes. The most effective approach involves adding appropriate locking mechanisms such as mutexes or spinlocks around critical sections of code that access shared data structures. Additionally, implementing proper reference counting for vpu instances and ensuring that memory deallocation only occurs when no other threads are accessing the freed resources will prevent the use-after-free scenario. Security patches should also include input validation and bounds checking to prevent improper access patterns that could trigger the race condition. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided security updates immediately upon release and consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and represents a classic example of how kernel-level race conditions can be exploited to achieve unauthorized privilege elevation without requiring user interaction or additional execution privileges.