CVE-2026-0183 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In CPM, there is a possible information disclosure due to a confused deputy. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Context Manager (CPM) represents a classic confused deputy problem, where an entity that has been granted certain permissions inadvertently allows those permissions to be misused by another party or process. In this specific instance, the flaw results in local information disclosure, meaning sensitive data accessible only through elevated privileges is exposed to unauthorized entities within the same system boundary. The requirement for System execution privileges indicates that the vulnerability affects components running with high-level access, which typically possess broad read and write capabilities across various parts of the operating environment. This elevation of privilege context amplifies the severity because an attacker who gains control over a process or thread executing under these credentials can leverage the confused deputy state to bypass intended security controls and extract confidential information that would otherwise remain isolated from lower-privileged processes.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in improper verification of the caller's identity or intent before performing sensitive operations. When a privileged service accepts input or requests from less trusted sources without adequately validating whether those sources are authorized to trigger specific actions within the elevated context, it creates an avenue for exploitation. The CPM likely handles resource allocation or memory management tasks where access control checks are either missing, incorrectly implemented, or bypassed due to logical errors in how delegation is handled. This allows a local attacker who can execute code with system-level privileges to manipulate these internal mechanisms into revealing data from protected areas of the file system, registry, or memory space that should be strictly confined to specific applications or users. The absence of user interaction requirements further lowers the barrier for exploitation, enabling automated attacks that do not rely on social engineering or physical access beyond initial code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential to serve as a stepping stone in broader attack chains. By disclosing sensitive system information, an attacker can gather intelligence about installed software versions, configuration settings, cryptographic keys, or user credentials stored within the affected environment. This data can be used to craft more targeted exploits against other services running on the same host or to escalate privileges if additional weaknesses are present. The confusion deputy aspect suggests that even well-intentioned system components become vectors for compromise when their trust assumptions are violated. Security teams must recognize that local information disclosure at this level undermines the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if not addressed promptly, especially in environments where multiple tenants or users share resources under a unified administrative account.
Mitigation strategies should focus on reinforcing access control mechanisms within the CPM implementation. Developers need to implement strict identity verification before any privileged operation is executed, ensuring that only authorized callers with explicit permission can trigger actions involving sensitive data. Principle of least privilege must be enforced by minimizing the scope of system-level permissions granted to individual components and isolating critical functions into separate processes or containers with restricted access rights. Regular code audits focusing on confused deputy patterns are essential, particularly in areas handling resource delegation or inter-process communication. Additionally, employing runtime protection mechanisms such as memory integrity checks and strict sandboxing can limit the blast radius of any successful exploitation attempt. Organizations should also monitor for unusual local privilege usage patterns that might indicate active probing or exploitation attempts against this vulnerability class.
This issue aligns with CWE-269, which covers Improper Privilege Management, specifically highlighting scenarios where a program fails to properly verify its own authority before performing actions on behalf of another entity. It also relates to CWE-787, as improper handling of memory or resources can lead to unintended data exposure when access controls are bypassed through logical flaws rather than buffer overflows. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates Initial Access and Privilege Escalation techniques by allowing attackers to leverage local system privileges for information gathering (T1083) and potentially lateral movement if shared credentials or configurations are exposed. Addressing these weaknesses requires a holistic approach combining secure coding practices, rigorous testing of privilege boundaries, and continuous monitoring of system behavior to detect anomalies indicative of confused deputy exploitation attempts.