CVE-2026-40000 in File Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
The Activity zte.com.cn.filer/zte.com.cn.filer.FilePreViewActivity within ZTE File Manager is designed to preview compressed files. Third-party applications can launch this Activity and supply arbitrary file paths (e.g., content://zte.com.cn.filer.fileprovider/root_path), enabling file access with the privilege level of ZTE File Manager. This allows unrooted devices to read files under certain system directories such as /data/data and /data/local/tmp. If access restrictions do not block untrusted applications, additional directories may also be accessible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical security flaw in the ZTE File Manager application that stems from improper intent handling and privilege escalation mechanisms. This issue resides within the FilePreViewActivity component which is designed to handle compressed file previews but fails to properly validate incoming intents from external applications. The activity accepts arbitrary file paths through content URIs that reference the zte.com.cn.filer.fileprovider, creating an attack surface where third-party applications can manipulate the file access behavior of the legitimate ZTE File Manager process.
The technical implementation flaw allows for unauthorized file system traversal and access to sensitive directories that should normally be restricted to system-level processes or the owning application. When third-party applications launch this activity with crafted content URIs, they effectively elevate their privileges to match those of the ZTE File Manager application, which typically runs with elevated permissions due to its system integration. This privilege escalation enables access to critical system directories such as /data/data where application-specific data and databases are stored, and /data/local/tmp which often contains temporary files that may include sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access, as it provides potential attackers with the ability to extract application data, user credentials, configuration files, and other sensitive information that could be stored in protected system directories. The threat is particularly concerning on unrooted devices where such privilege escalation could allow adversaries to bypass normal security boundaries that typically protect against unauthorized access to system resources. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic example of an insecure intent handling pattern that enables privilege escalation attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates weaknesses in Android application security practices, particularly around the proper implementation of component exposure and intent filtering mechanisms. Attackers could leverage this flaw to construct malicious applications that silently access sensitive data without user consent or awareness. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1074 (Data Staging) as threat actors could extract, process, and exfiltrate data from system directories. Additionally, this vulnerability could enable further attacks such as information disclosure, credential theft, or even the modification of application data if write permissions are also granted through similar mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing proper intent validation, restricting component exposure, and ensuring that file provider authorities are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access. Applications should avoid exporting activities that handle sensitive file operations without proper authentication and authorization checks. The recommended fixes include implementing strict intent filtering, using private file providers with appropriate permissions, and ensuring that external applications cannot manipulate system-level file operations through exposed components. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection measures and regular security scanning to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in their Android applications.