CVE-2026-58946 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In navigateUpTo of ActivityClientController.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a logic error in the code. 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 • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified within the navigateUpTo method of ActivityClientController.java represents a critical logical flaw that undermines the integrity of Android's permission model. This specific component acts as an intermediary between applications and the system server, managing activity lifecycle events such as launching, stopping, or navigating between activities. The logic error occurs during the validation phase where the system determines whether the calling application has sufficient privileges to initiate navigation to a target activity. Instead of strictly enforcing that the caller possesses either the same user ID as the target activity's owner or holds specific explicit permissions required by the destination component, the code fails to adequately verify these constraints under certain conditions. This oversight allows an attacker who can trigger this method through standard application interactions to bypass security checks designed to isolate applications from one another and restrict access to sensitive system resources or private data.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified as a logic error in authorization controls, which aligns with CWE-285 Improper Authorization. The core issue lies not in a buffer overflow or memory corruption but in the decision-making process of the software itself. When an application invokes navigateUpTo to move up the activity stack, the system should verify that the current context is authorized to perform this action relative to the target component's security requirements. However, due to the flawed logic, the verification step may be skipped or incorrectly evaluated, particularly if specific edge cases regarding task affinity, user IDs, or permission grants are not handled correctly. This allows a malicious application, which might otherwise lack the necessary permissions, to effectively hijack the navigation flow and gain access to components it should not reach.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it facilitates local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges from the attacker beyond what is normally available to any installed app on the device. Since user interaction is not required for exploitation, an attacker can potentially trigger this flaw through background processes or by exploiting other lower-severity vulnerabilities that allow code execution within a sandboxed application environment. Once exploited, the attacker could access protected activities, read sensitive data stored in private directories associated with those activities, or interact with system services that are normally restricted to privileged apps. This effectively breaks the Android security model's principle of least privilege and isolation between applications, potentially leading to full device compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities.
This type of vulnerability is often mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Privilege Escalation on mobile platforms, specifically those involving bypassing application sandbox restrictions or manipulating activity stack management for unauthorized access. The lack of user interaction makes this particularly dangerous as it can be triggered silently in the background, evading detection by users who might otherwise notice suspicious UI changes or permission prompts.
Mitigation strategies must focus on correcting the underlying logic within ActivityClientController.java to ensure strict adherence to Android's security model. Developers and system integrators should implement rigorous validation checks that verify both the user ID of the caller against the target activity's owner and explicitly check for required permissions before allowing navigation events to proceed. It is essential to review all code paths in navigateUpTo to identify edge cases where permission checks might be bypassed, such as when dealing with shared users or specific task configurations. Additionally, applying security patches that address this logic error is critical for maintaining the integrity of the operating system's access control mechanisms. Regular static and dynamic analysis should be employed during development to detect similar logical flaws in other components responsible for activity management and permission enforcement.