CVE-2026-55292 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In rw_ci_data_cback of rw_ci.cc, there is a possible memory safety issue due to integer underflow. 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 • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified in the rw_ci_data_cback function within rw_ci.cc represents a critical memory safety flaw rooted in an integer underflow condition. Integer underflows occur when a subtraction operation results in a value that falls below the minimum limit of the data type used to store it, causing the result to wrap around to a large positive number due to two's complement arithmetic rules. In this specific context, the flawed logic likely involves calculating buffer offsets or lengths where an unchecked subtraction allows the resulting index to exceed valid memory boundaries in a manner that accesses unintended regions. This mathematical error transforms what might appear as a simple logical bug into a severe security risk, as it directly compromises the integrity of memory access patterns within the application runtime environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it facilitates remote information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges from an attacker. The absence of privilege escalation requirements means that even unauthenticated or low-privileged users can potentially exploit this flaw by crafting specific network requests or data inputs that trigger the underflow condition during callback processing. Furthermore, the fact that user interaction is not needed for exploitation lowers the barrier to entry significantly, allowing for automated attacks where malicious actors do not need to trick a human into clicking links or opening files. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in server-side applications or network services where continuous and unattended operation is standard practice.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-191, which classifies integer underflow as a distinct category of software errors leading to security vulnerabilities. The exploitation vector typically involves sending malformed data that causes the application to calculate an incorrect memory address or buffer size. When the system attempts to read from or write to this incorrectly calculated location, it may expose sensitive information stored in adjacent memory blocks, such as stack variables, heap metadata, or other process data. This behavior is consistent with CWE-125, Out-of-bounds Read, which describes scenarios where a program reads past the end of an allocated buffer, potentially leaking confidential data to an external observer.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability can be mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Collection and Exfiltration over Network Protocols. Specifically, it resembles behaviors seen in T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the underflow leads to code execution, but given the stated impact of information disclosure, it more closely aligns with data exfiltration methods where attackers leverage memory corruption bugs to dump sensitive contents from application memory spaces. The lack of user interaction places this within automated exploitation frameworks commonly used in zero-day attacks or targeted campaigns against network-facing services.
Mitigation strategies must focus on rigorous input validation and defensive programming practices at the source code level. Developers should implement explicit checks before performing arithmetic operations that determine buffer indices, ensuring that subtracted values do not result in negative numbers when interpreted as unsigned integers. Using safe integer libraries or compiler flags such as -ftrapv can help detect these conditions during development and testing phases. Additionally, employing Address Sanitizer (ASan) tools during the build process is highly recommended to identify memory safety issues like underflows before deployment. On a broader architectural level, implementing strict input sanitization at network boundaries and applying principle of least privilege limits the potential blast radius if an exploit succeeds by restricting what data can be accessed even through successful memory corruption.