CVE-2026-49912 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In multiple functions of MediaCarouselController.kt, there is a possible way for media to show up after disablement due to a logic error in the code. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified within the MediaCarouselController component of the Android application represents a critical flaw in state management and access control mechanisms, specifically concerning media content visibility after user-initiated disablement actions. This issue stems from a logic error where the internal data structures or UI binding layers fail to properly synchronize with the intended security policy when a media item is marked as disabled. In secure software design, disabling an asset should trigger a comprehensive update across all relevant views and underlying data models to ensure that no residual references remain accessible to the user interface layer. However, in this specific implementation, the code fails to invalidate or remove these items from the active display list immediately upon disablement, creating a window of opportunity where previously restricted content remains visible. This discrepancy between the logical state of the media item and its physical representation on the screen constitutes a classic case of improper access control at the application level.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control, as the application does not enforce proper restrictions on user interactions or data visibility based on the assigned security attributes. The root cause lies in the asynchronous nature of Android UI updates combined with insufficient validation checks before rendering media elements. When a user disables a specific piece of content, the backend state may update correctly, but the frontend carousel controller continues to reference stale pointers or cached data that have not been purged from memory. This lack of immediate consistency allows the application to render items that should be hidden, effectively bypassing the intended privacy controls implemented by the developer. The absence of a robust re-validation step during the rendering cycle is the primary technical deficiency enabling this behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges from an attacker or even user interaction in certain contexts. Since media files often contain sensitive personal data, such as photographs, documents, or private communications, their unintended exposure can lead to severe privacy violations. An adversary with physical access to the device or a malicious application running on the same platform could potentially exploit this logic error to view content that was explicitly removed from public view by the user. The fact that no additional privileges are needed lowers the barrier for exploitation significantly, making it accessible to low-privilege processes or even automated scripts if triggered through specific UI automation frameworks. Furthermore, because user interaction is not strictly required for some variants of this flaw, such as those involving background state changes followed by rapid UI refreshes, the risk surface expands beyond simple manual manipulation.
This vulnerability also maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1005 Data from Local System, where an attacker retrieves data directly from a local device without needing network access or elevated permissions. The lack of user interaction requirement further exacerbates the severity, as it suggests that under certain conditions, such as app backgrounding and foregrounding cycles, the vulnerability can be triggered passively. This passive exploitability means that even if users are vigilant about their settings, the application itself may inadvertently expose data during normal operational transitions. The persistence of this state until a full restart or specific manual intervention highlights a fundamental design flaw in how lifecycle events interact with security policies within the MediaCarouselController module.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must implement strict synchronization between the logical state of media items and their visual representation. This involves ensuring that any action to disable content triggers an immediate invalidation of the corresponding UI components and forces a re-rendering cycle where disabled items are explicitly filtered out before display. Implementing robust unit tests that verify visibility states after disablement actions is essential for regression prevention. Additionally, adopting defensive programming practices such as null checks and state validation prior to rendering can prevent stale data from being displayed. It is also recommended to review the broader architecture of media handling in the application to ensure that access controls are enforced at multiple layers, including both the business logic layer and the presentation layer, thereby reducing reliance on single points of control for security enforcement.