CVE-2026-58744 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In multiple locations, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to improper input validation. 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 represents a critical security flaw characterized by an improper handling of user-supplied or system-generated inputs, which directly facilitates the unauthorized elevation of privileges on the affected system. This type of defect typically arises when software fails to adequately sanitize, validate, or constrain data before processing it within privileged contexts. The core technical issue lies in the absence of rigorous boundary checks and logical validation mechanisms that would otherwise prevent malicious actors from injecting crafted inputs into sensitive operations. By bypassing these controls, an attacker can manipulate internal state variables, memory structures, or execution flows to assume higher-level permissions than originally granted. This specific failure mode is a classic example of CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, where the system accepts data that does not meet expected criteria without triggering appropriate error handling or rejection protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for local privilege escalation. An attacker who gains initial access to the system, even through low-level unprivileged accounts, can exploit this flaw to gain administrative or root-level control over the operating environment. This transition from a standard user context to an elevated one effectively neutralizes many foundational security controls designed to limit damage in case of compromise. Once privilege escalation is achieved, the attacker obtains unrestricted access to system resources, sensitive data stores, configuration files, and other critical components. The severity is further compounded by the fact that no additional execution privileges are required for exploitation beyond what is already present at the point of initial entry. This means that even basic shell access or a simple script execution capability can serve as the launchpad for this attack vector, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for malicious actors.
Furthermore, the characteristic that user interaction is not needed for exploitation marks this vulnerability as particularly dangerous in automated threat scenarios. Unlike vulnerabilities requiring social engineering or physical presence, this flaw can be triggered remotely if there is any network-facing service or locally accessible interface that processes untrusted data without sufficient validation. This aligns with attack patterns observed in frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, specifically under techniques related to Privilege Escalation and potentially Command and Control if the escalated privileges are used to maintain persistence. The lack of required user interaction implies that automated scanning tools or malware can detect and exploit this condition without human intervention, increasing the likelihood of widespread compromise across networks where vulnerable systems reside.
To mitigate this risk, developers must implement strict input validation strategies at all entry points within the application architecture. This includes enforcing allow-listing for expected inputs rather than relying on block-lists which are prone to bypasses. Data should be validated against type, length, range, and format constraints before being processed by any privileged functions or system calls. Additionally, employing principle of least privilege in software design ensures that components operate with only the permissions necessary for their specific tasks, thereby limiting the blast radius if a vulnerability is exploited. Regular security code reviews focusing on input handling logic, along with automated static analysis tools configured to detect CWE-20 patterns, are essential preventive measures. For deployed systems, applying vendor-provided patches promptly and monitoring system logs for anomalous privilege changes can help in early detection and response to potential exploitation attempts.