CVE-2026-49923 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In onResult of AccountManagerService.java, there is a possible untrusted/misleading UI issue 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 • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified within the onResult method of AccountManagerService.java represents a critical logic flaw that facilitates an untrusted or misleading user interface state, ultimately leading to a local escalation of privilege. This issue stems from improper validation and handling of account management results, where the system fails to adequately verify the integrity and source of data returned during asynchronous operations. In Android systems, the AccountManagerService is responsible for managing user accounts across various applications, acting as a central hub for authentication tokens and credentials. When this service processes result callbacks without rigorous checks on the origin or content of the response, it creates an opportunity for malicious actors to inject misleading information into the system's account state. This logic error allows an attacker to manipulate how the operating system perceives valid user sessions, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries that rely on accurate account verification.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-841 Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow. The core issue lies in the assumption that results returned to the service are inherently trustworthy or correctly formatted according to expected protocols. By failing to enforce strict constraints on these inputs, particularly regarding who initiated the request and what data is being processed, the application exposes itself to state manipulation attacks. An attacker can exploit this by crafting specific payloads that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the AccountManagerService to accept false account credentials or session tokens as legitimate. This misalignment between expected behavior and actual execution allows for a bypass of authentication mechanisms, granting unauthorized access to protected resources or user data without requiring elevated privileges at the point of entry.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for local privilege escalation with no additional execution privileges required by the attacker. Since user interaction is not needed for exploitation, the attack vector is highly efficient and stealthy. Once triggered, the malicious code can operate in the background, silently altering account states or injecting fake authentication tokens that are subsequently used by other applications trusting the AccountManagerService. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive personal information, financial data, or corporate credentials stored within accounts managed by the service. Furthermore, because the escalation occurs locally and does not require user consent or interaction, it poses a significant risk in scenarios where users may be targeted through malicious apps installed on their devices or via network-based attacks that exploit local execution capabilities.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts and potentially T1549 Persistent Deception if the misleading UI is used to trick users into further actions later. The ability to escalate privileges without user interaction places it in a high-severity category within mobile security frameworks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to maintain persistence on compromised devices, exfiltrate data under the guise of legitimate account activity, or pivot to other services that rely on the same authentication infrastructure. The lack of required user interaction makes detection difficult for standard monitoring tools, as the actions appear consistent with normal system behavior until significant damage has been done.
Mitigation strategies must focus on hardening the input validation logic within AccountManagerService.java and enforcing strict separation between untrusted inputs and critical security decisions. Developers should implement comprehensive checks to verify the source of account results, ensuring that only authorized components can trigger specific callbacks or modify account states. Utilizing digital signatures for inter-process communication messages related to account management can help prevent spoofing attacks. Additionally, adopting a principle of least privilege ensures that even if an attacker gains initial access, their ability to manipulate core system services is restricted. Regular security audits and static code analysis focused on logic errors in asynchronous callbacks are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment. Updating the Android framework or affected applications with patches that address this specific logic flaw is critical for restoring trust in account management processes and preventing unauthorized privilege escalation.