CVE-2026-56986 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In multiple files, there is a possible out-of-bounds read due to type confusion. 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 • 09/15/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical security flaw rooted in improper validation of data types within the application's memory management routines, specifically manifesting as an out-of-bounds read condition triggered by type confusion. Type confusion occurs when a program incorrectly assumes that a variable or object belongs to one specific data type while it actually holds another, leading to misinterpretation of its internal structure and layout in memory. In this context, the software fails to properly verify the actual type of an input value before processing it as if it were a different, typically larger or differently structured, type. This discrepancy causes the application to calculate incorrect memory offsets, resulting in read operations that access memory locations beyond the intended boundaries of the allocated buffer. Such behavior is classified under CWE-843, which addresses Accessing Memory with Incorrectly Calculated Offset, and often overlaps with CWE-120 if it were a write operation, but here the primary risk stems from reading sensitive data or control flow information that resides outside the designated memory segment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for local privilege escalation without requiring user interaction or specific execution privileges. Because no additional privileges are needed and user action is not required, an attacker can exploit this flaw remotely if the vulnerable service is exposed on a network interface, or locally by triggering the condition through any accessible entry point that processes untrusted input. The out-of-bounds read allows the extraction of arbitrary memory contents, which may include stack cookies, heap metadata, pointers to other objects, or even parts of the kernel space depending on the execution context and operating system architecture. This leakage of information can be leveraged in subsequent stages of an attack chain to bypass security mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) by revealing memory addresses, thereby facilitating further exploitation techniques like return-oriented programming or direct code injection.
From a threat modeling perspective aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability supports several tactics and techniques relevant to initial access and privilege escalation. The lack of user interaction aligns with automated exploitation vectors often seen in remote code execution scenarios where attackers target services running as system users. The ability to escalate privileges locally places this flaw within the context of lateral movement or persistence strategies if combined with other vulnerabilities, though its primary classification here is related to initial compromise and privilege escalation via memory corruption flaws. Security researchers should note that type confusion bugs are particularly dangerous because they often bypass standard bounds checking mechanisms designed for simpler buffer overflow scenarios, making them difficult to detect through conventional static analysis tools unless specifically configured to track type assertions and casts across different code modules.
Mitigation strategies must focus on rigorous input validation and strict adherence to safe programming practices. Developers should implement comprehensive type checks before any casting or reinterpretation of data structures, ensuring that the actual runtime type matches the expected type explicitly rather than implicitly assuming correctness based on prior context. Utilizing static analysis tools capable of detecting type confusion patterns during the development phase is essential for early detection. Furthermore, enabling compiler-level protections such as Control Flow Integrity (CFI) can help mitigate exploitation by verifying that indirect calls and returns follow valid control flow paths, thereby reducing the effectiveness of memory corruption attacks even if an out-of-bounds read occurs. On the operational side, deploying runtime application self-protection mechanisms or intrusion detection systems tuned to detect anomalous memory access patterns can provide a layer of defense against active exploitation attempts while patches are being developed and deployed.