CVE-2026-28600 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2026
In onCreate of PaymentDefaultDialog.java, there is a possible way to change default payment app due to a confused deputy. 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 • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified in the PaymentDefaultDialog component represents a classic confusion of authority flaw, specifically categorized under CWE-269 Improper Control of Interaction with Untrusted Input or more accurately as a Confused Deputy problem where an application performs an action on behalf of a user without properly verifying that it has the right to do so. In this specific instance, the onCreate method within PaymentDefaultDialog.java fails to adequately validate the context in which the default payment app selection is being modified. This architectural oversight allows an attacker who can trigger or influence the initialization of this dialog to manipulate the system's preference for handling financial transactions without explicit user consent or proper authorization checks. The core technical flaw lies in the lack of strict origin validation and intent filtering, enabling a malicious application to masquerade as a legitimate payment handler or exploit the trust relationship between the operating system and the payment service provider.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability facilitates local privilege escalation by allowing unauthorized changes to critical system settings that govern financial data flow. Since user interaction is not required for exploitation, the attack vector is particularly dangerous as it can be triggered silently in the background or through automated scripts without alerting the end-user. An attacker could potentially redirect payment requests to a malicious application designed to intercept transaction details, steal sensitive credentials, or execute fraudulent transfers. This undermines the integrity of the device's financial ecosystem and poses significant risks to user privacy and asset security. The absence of required execution privileges for exploitation means that even low-privileged applications on the same device can leverage this flaw, expanding the potential attack surface significantly across multi-user environments or compromised devices.
This behavior aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Defense Evasion and Privilege Escalation, particularly those involving manipulation of system settings or abuse of legitimate software features for malicious purposes. The vulnerability essentially allows an untrusted entity to hijack a privileged operation by exploiting the application's trust in its own internal state management during initialization. To mitigate this risk, developers must implement rigorous input validation within the onCreate lifecycle method, ensuring that any changes to default payment app settings are only processed if they originate from verified and authorized sources. Implementing strict intent filters with explicit package name verification can prevent other applications from spoofing requests intended for the system's payment configuration interface. Additionally, introducing user confirmation dialogs or requiring biometric authentication before altering such critical defaults would add a necessary layer of defense against automated exploitation attempts. Regular security audits focusing on confused deputy vulnerabilities and adherence to secure coding standards like OWASP Mobile Top Ten are essential to prevent similar issues in future updates.