CVE-2026-58698 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In ap_pmic_poll_msg_handler of ap_pmic_ipc.c, there is a possible permission bypass due to a confused deputy. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in the ap_pmic_poll_msg_handler function within the ap_pmic_ipc module represents a critical security flaw rooted in a confused deputy scenario, which fundamentally compromises the integrity of access control mechanisms on affected devices. A confused deputy attack occurs when a trusted program or process is tricked into performing an unauthorized action because it fails to properly verify the identity and permissions of the entity requesting its services. In this specific context, the handler responsible for polling messages from the Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) via Inter-Processor Communication (IPC) channels does not adequately validate whether the incoming request originates from a privileged source or if the caller has the requisite authority to execute certain power management operations. This lack of rigorous identity verification allows an attacker who has already achieved local execution privileges, even at a low level such as that of a standard user application, to manipulate the IPC message structure and impersonate higher-privileged processes.
The technical flaw lies in the insufficient separation of duties or the absence of strict capability checks within the handler logic before processing messages intended for system-level power management functions. By exploiting this weakness, an attacker can bypass permission boundaries that are designed to isolate user-space applications from kernel-mode or firmware-controlled hardware resources. Since the vulnerability enables local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges, the impact is severe, granting the adversary full control over the device's operating environment. This level of access allows for the installation of persistent malware, exfiltration of sensitive data including cryptographic keys and personal information, modification of system configurations to disable security features such as firewalls or encryption, and potentially rendering the device unstable or unusable through improper power state transitions.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, specifically highlighting failures in validating the authority of actors within a multi-process environment. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, where an adversary leverages trusted system components to bypass security controls without triggering alerts associated with direct exploitation attempts. The fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation significantly increases the risk profile, as remote attackers or local malware can trigger this condition autonomously once they gain a foothold in the system. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous in scenarios where malicious code executes silently in the background, such as through drive-by downloads or compromised applications with minimal permissions that seek to escalate their rights without user awareness.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing strict access control checks within the ap_pmic_poll_msg_handler function before any message processing occurs. Developers should enforce principle of least privilege by ensuring that only processes explicitly authorized for specific power management tasks can invoke these IPC calls, utilizing mechanisms such as capability-based security or mandatory access controls like SELinux policies to restrict cross-privilege communication. Additionally, input validation on all IPC messages is critical to detect and reject malformed requests that attempt to spoof higher-level identities. Regular code audits focusing on inter-process communication pathways are recommended to identify similar confused deputy vulnerabilities across the firmware stack. For end-users, applying vendor-provided security patches promptly is essential to close this gap in privilege management until a permanent architectural fix can be deployed in future hardware revisions or software updates.