CVE-2026-57012 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In the Setup Wizard, there is a possible remote package install due to a missing permission check. This could lead to remote 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 identified vulnerability resides within the setup wizard component of the software architecture and represents a critical security flaw characterized by an insufficient access control mechanism during package installation procedures. Specifically, the application fails to verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary permissions or privileges before proceeding with the execution of remote package installations. This absence of a mandatory permission check allows any actor, including unauthenticated users or processes running with minimal privileges, to trigger the installation of arbitrary packages from remote sources without requiring explicit user interaction or elevated system rights. The core technical flaw is rooted in the lack of proper authorization logic within the setup wizard's code path that handles package ingestion and deployment, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to the system state.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Management, as it involves an actor obtaining privileges or performing actions they are not authorized to execute due to flawed access control checks. Furthermore, the exploitation technique maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK tactic T1059, specifically Command and Scripting Interpreter sub-tactics such as PowerShell (T1059.001) or other scripting mechanisms depending on the underlying operating system environment. The ability to install packages remotely without user interaction places this flaw within the context of Initial Access and Persistence techniques, where an attacker can leverage trusted setup utilities to deploy malicious payloads that establish a foothold in the target environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote privilege escalation. Since no additional execution privileges are required from the attacker's perspective, even users with basic or guest-level access can exploit this flaw to install software packages that may contain malware, backdoors, or other malicious code. The lack of user interaction requirement significantly lowers the barrier to entry for exploitation, making it highly susceptible to automated attacks and worm-like propagation mechanisms. Once a package is installed through this vector, an attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges associated with the setup wizard process, which typically runs with high-level system or administrative rights. This effectively results in full compromise of the affected system, allowing for data exfiltration, lateral movement within a network, and persistent control over critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing strict authorization checks before any package installation operation is initiated by the setup wizard. Developers should enforce principle of least privilege by ensuring that only authenticated users with specific administrative roles can trigger remote package installations. Input validation and integrity verification for all incoming packages are also essential to prevent the deployment of tampered or malicious artifacts. Additionally, logging and monitoring mechanisms should be enhanced to detect anomalous installation activities originating from unprivileged sources. Immediate patching is recommended as this vulnerability allows for straightforward exploitation without complex preconditions, posing a direct risk to system integrity and confidentiality in environments where remote configuration tools are accessible over network boundaries.