CVE-2026-28602 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2026
In setClipboardAccessNotificationsEnabledForUser of ClipboardService.java, there is a possible mult-iuser isolation due to a logic error in the code. 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 within the setClipboardAccessNotificationsEnabledForUser method of ClipboardService.java represents a critical failure in multi-user isolation mechanisms on Android-based systems. In operating system architectures that support multiple concurrent user profiles, such as those found in modern mobile devices and enterprise-managed tablets, strict separation of data and services is paramount to prevent unauthorized access between distinct user identities. The logic error present in this specific service function compromises the integrity of these boundaries by failing to correctly validate or enforce context-specific permissions when managing clipboard notification settings for a particular user identifier. This flaw allows an application operating under one user profile to inadvertently influence, read from, or write to the clipboard state associated with another active user profile without proper authorization checks being triggered during the operation.
From a technical perspective, this issue stems from insufficient validation of the calling context against the target user ID passed into the method. When applications interact with system services like ClipboardService, they are expected to operate within their own sandboxed environment. However, due to the logic error in setClipboardAccessNotificationsEnabledForUser, the service may process requests that affect clipboard notifications for a different user than intended or permitted by the caller's security context. This misalignment between the requesting application’s identity and the target resource’s ownership creates an avenue for privilege escalation. An attacker can exploit this discrepancy to bypass standard sandboxing restrictions, effectively gaining capabilities that should be restricted to higher-privileged processes or other users on the same device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it facilitates local escalation of privilege without requiring additional execution privileges beyond those typically granted to malicious applications installed by a user. Since no special system-level permissions are needed initially, an attacker can leverage existing low-privilege apps as a foothold. Furthermore, the fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation lowers the barrier to entry significantly. This means that once malware or a compromised application with minimal permissions is present on the device, it can automatically execute code paths leading to this vulnerability in the background. The attacker could potentially intercept sensitive clipboard data such as passwords, personal messages, or financial information belonging to other users sharing the same physical device, thereby violating confidentiality and integrity guarantees expected by multi-user environments.
This flaw aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, specifically where an actor is able to elevate privileges beyond what was originally granted due to flawed logic in access control mechanisms. It also relates closely to CWE-1038 The product incorrectly determines the security context for a resource, leading to unintended information disclosure or modification. In terms of offensive tactics, this vulnerability supports techniques associated with lateral movement and privilege escalation within ATT&CK frameworks, particularly those involving local exploitation of system services to gain broader access than initially permitted by the application’s manifest declarations.
Mitigation strategies must focus on correcting the underlying logic error in ClipboardService.java to ensure that all operations affecting clipboard notifications strictly validate that the calling process has explicit permission for the specific user ID being targeted. Developers should implement rigorous checks using Android’s built-in security APIs, such as Binder.getCallingUid() and UserManager.isUserSameOrRoot(), to verify context before proceeding with any state changes. Additionally, enforcing least-privilege principles by restricting clipboard notification registration to only those applications explicitly authorized for the current user session can reduce the attack surface. System vendors should issue patches that address this logic flaw in subsequent security updates, ensuring that multi-user isolation is maintained even when multiple profiles are active simultaneously. Security auditors and developers must review similar service methods across the framework to identify any analogous patterns where context validation might be insufficient or incorrectly implemented.