CVE-2026-28652 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2026
In multiple functions of RangingServiceImpl.java, there is a possible MITM due to a missing permission check. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Android application component RangingServiceImpl.java represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper access control mechanisms, specifically categorized under CWE-284: Improper Access Control. This defect manifests as a missing permission check within multiple functions of the service implementation, effectively allowing any entity on the device to interact with sensitive ranging operations without requiring explicit authorization from the Android operating system or user consent. In modern mobile ecosystems, services that handle location-based data, proximity sensing, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ranging are typically protected by strict permissions such as BLUETOOTH_CONNECT or ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION to prevent unauthorized access to private device state and sensor data. The absence of these checks in RangingServiceImpl.java creates a significant attack surface where malicious applications can invoke internal methods directly through the Android component binding mechanism, bypassing standard security boundaries designed to isolate app sandboxes.
From an operational perspective, this flaw facilitates a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) scenario within the local device environment rather than over a network connection. An attacker with minimal privileges, such as a malicious application installed on the same device, can exploit this vulnerability to intercept or manipulate ranging data exchanged between legitimate components of the host application and its internal services. Since no additional execution privileges are required for exploitation beyond those granted during standard app installation, the barrier to entry is exceptionally low. Furthermore, the fact that user interaction is not needed means that an attacker does not need to trick a victim into clicking a link or granting permissions; the exploit can be triggered silently in the background as soon as the vulnerable application runs and exposes its service components. This lack of user awareness significantly increases the risk of successful exploitation in real-world scenarios where users may unknowingly install compromised apps from third-party sources or side-loaded repositories.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to include potential remote information disclosure, which aligns with CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor. By exploiting the missing permission checks, an attacker can extract sensitive ranging metrics that may reveal precise user location, proximity to specific beacons or devices, and behavioral patterns derived from movement tracking. This data is highly valuable for profiling users and can be combined with other vulnerabilities to facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as physical stalking or targeted social engineering. The MITM capability also implies that an attacker could potentially inject false ranging data into the application flow, leading to integrity violations where the application makes decisions based on spoofed inputs rather than genuine sensor readings. This compromises both confidentiality and integrity of the application's core functionality related to proximity detection.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must implement robust permission verification within every public method or entry point of RangingServiceImpl.java that handles sensitive data. This involves using Android’s Context.checkCallingPermission() or similar APIs to ensure that only apps with explicitly granted permissions can invoke these functions. Additionally, the service should be declared in the manifest file with appropriate android:exported attributes set to false unless absolutely necessary for inter-app communication, and if exported, it must enforce strict signature-based or permission-based access controls. It is also recommended to implement input validation on all parameters received by ranging methods to prevent injection attacks that might accompany exploitation of this flaw. Regular security audits focusing on Android component exposure and adherence to OWASP Mobile Top 10 guidelines, particularly M5: Insufficient Cryptography and M8: Code Tampering, will help identify similar misconfigurations in other parts of the application architecture before they can be exploited by adversaries leveraging ATT&CK techniques related to local privilege escalation or data exfiltration.