CVE-2026-55366 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In IP Multimedia Subsystem, there is a possible authentication bypass due to a logic error in the code. This could lead to remote escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The described vulnerability resides within the core architecture of the IP Multimedia Subsystem, specifically affecting its signaling and session management components which are critical for establishing multimedia communications over IP networks. This subsystem relies heavily on strict authentication protocols to ensure that only authorized devices and users can access network resources and initiate sessions. The identified flaw is a logic error in the code responsible for validating these credentials or security tokens during the handshake process. Unlike typical injection flaws or buffer overflows, this issue stems from an incorrect implementation of the business logic governing access control decisions. Specifically, the system fails to properly enforce authentication requirements under certain conditions, allowing requests that should be rejected to proceed as if they were authenticated successfully. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and secure default configurations within the network infrastructure.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which denotes Improper Authentication. The logic error likely involves a race condition or an incomplete state check where the system proceeds to grant access before verifying all necessary authentication parameters are valid and present. In some implementations of IMS, such as those involving Diameter protocol signaling, there may be scenarios where specific message types or edge cases in session establishment bypass standard verification routines. Because this is a logic error rather than a memory corruption issue, it does not require complex exploitation techniques like shellcode injection. Instead, an attacker can craft specific network packets that exploit the flawed decision-making process within the authentication module. The absence of additional execution privileges for the attacker means that no prior foothold in the system is required to launch this attack, making it a remote vulnerability with low barrier to entry for malicious actors who possess basic networking knowledge and tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote escalation of privilege. Once an attacker bypasses authentication, they can impersonate legitimate users or network elements within the IMS domain. This allows them to initiate unauthorized voice, video, or data sessions, potentially incurring significant financial costs through premium rate services or resource exhaustion attacks. More critically, it enables the interception and manipulation of multimedia streams, leading to privacy violations such as eavesdropping on calls or injecting malicious content into ongoing communications. In enterprise environments, this could lead to unauthorized access to internal corporate networks if IMS is integrated with broader organizational infrastructure. The lack of user interaction required for exploitation means that automated scanning tools can rapidly identify and exploit vulnerable systems across a network, leading to widespread compromise without any social engineering efforts needed from the attacker.
This type of vulnerability aligns closely with techniques observed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under T1078 Valid Accounts or T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application. The ability to bypass authentication remotely places this flaw in a high-risk category for critical infrastructure protection. To mitigate such risks, organizations must implement defense-in-depth strategies that do not rely solely on perimeter-based authentication logic. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate IMS components from untrusted networks, ensuring that even if an attacker gains initial access, lateral movement is restricted. Regular code audits focusing on security-critical paths and state machine implementations are essential to identify logical flaws early in the development lifecycle. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems configured with signatures for abnormal signaling patterns can help detect exploitation attempts in real-time. Vendors should release patches that correct the underlying logic errors, ensuring all authentication checks are atomic and complete before granting access privileges.