CVE-2026-58925 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
The report details a heap Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability within the `android.hardware.automotive.evs-default` HAL service, stemming from unsynchronized access to an `std::unordered_map`. An unprivileged application with access to the EVS manager can trigger this UAF by making concurrent calls to `setExtendedInfo` and `getExtendedInfo`, potentially enabling code execution within the privileged HAL process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified in the android.hardware.automotive.evs-default hardware abstraction layer service represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper synchronization of shared data structures during concurrent operations. Specifically, the defect involves an unsynchronized access pattern to an std::unordered_map container within the EVS manager implementation. This race condition allows for a heap Use-After-Free scenario where memory allocated for one object is freed while another thread or process still holds a reference to it and attempts to access that memory region. The root cause lies in the lack of mutex locks or atomic operations when managing the lifecycle of objects stored within this map, particularly during removal and retrieval phases triggered by external API calls.
An unprivileged application possessing the necessary permissions to interact with the EVS manager can exploit this flaw by orchestrating a precise sequence of concurrent requests. By simultaneously invoking setExtendedInfo and getExtendedInfo methods, an attacker can manipulate the timing such that one thread frees memory associated with a map entry while another thread attempts to read from or write to that same address space. This race condition leads to undefined behavior within the privileged HAL process, which typically runs at a higher integrity level than standard user-space applications. The ability to trigger this state effectively bypasses traditional sandboxing mechanisms because the exploitation occurs within the context of the elevated privilege service itself rather than in isolated application memory spaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges granted to the android.hardware.automotive.evs-default HAL process. In automotive environments, hardware abstraction layers often have deep access to system resources and may interact directly with vehicle control systems or sensitive diagnostic interfaces. Compromising such a service could allow an attacker to gain persistent control over critical vehicle functions, manipulate sensor data, or pivot further into the internal network of the electronic control units. This poses significant risks to both vehicle safety and user privacy, potentially enabling remote attacks if other attack vectors are present that facilitate initial access by unprivileged apps.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, Use After Free, which describes situations where memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior or exploitation. Additionally, the technique of triggering concurrent calls to exploit race conditions maps closely to ATT&CK Tactic TA0005, Defense Evasion, specifically under techniques involving resource hijacking or privilege escalation through timing attacks. The lack of proper synchronization primitives is a common anti-pattern in C++ development that has been widely documented in secure coding standards such as CERT C++ Secure Coding Standard regarding thread safety and memory management.
Mitigation strategies must focus on enforcing strict concurrency controls within the EVS HAL implementation. Developers should implement mutex locks around all read and write operations to the std::unordered_map to ensure mutual exclusion during critical sections where object lifecycles are managed. Alternatively, using atomic reference counting or smart pointers with thread-safe semantics can help prevent premature deallocation of objects still in use by other threads. Static analysis tools configured to detect race conditions and dynamic testing frameworks that stress-test concurrent API calls should be integrated into the development pipeline to identify such synchronization flaws early. Furthermore, applying principle of least privilege principles ensures that even if exploitation occurs, the blast radius is contained within a sandboxed environment with restricted capabilities.