CVE-2026-58965 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In handleAudioEffectBroadcast of MusicFxHelper.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a confused deputy. 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 in the handleAudioEffectBroadcast method within MusicFxHelper.java represents a classic confused deputy scenario, where an application component acts on behalf of another entity without properly verifying the identity or permissions of that entity. In this specific context, the Android system service responsible for managing audio effects is susceptible to manipulation because it fails to adequately validate the source and intent of incoming broadcast messages. This lack of strict validation allows a malicious local application to craft and send specially constructed broadcasts that mimic legitimate system signals, thereby tricking the MusicFxHelper into performing privileged operations or accessing restricted resources intended only for authorized components with higher security clearance levels.
From a technical perspective, this flaw stems from insufficient access control checks within the broadcast receiver implementation. When an Android component registers to receive specific intents, it must ensure that the sender of those intents is trusted and possesses the necessary permissions to trigger such actions. In this case, the handleAudioEffectBroadcast method likely relies on implicit assumptions about the origin of audio effect commands rather than enforcing explicit permission checks or signature-based verification. This oversight enables any application installed on the device with internet access or standard app installation privileges to inject malicious payloads into the audio processing pipeline. The attacker does not need user interaction because the broadcast can be sent programmatically in the background, making this a silent and stealthy vector for exploitation that operates entirely outside of normal user awareness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it facilitates local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges beyond those granted to standard applications. By exploiting this confused deputy weakness, an attacker can potentially gain control over audio-related system functions, which may lead to further compromises such as unauthorized access to sensitive data processed through the audio stack or manipulation of device behavior for malicious purposes like eavesdropping via microphone abuse if linked to other vulnerabilities in the audio subsystem. This aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and CWE-749 Exposed Dangerous Method, highlighting a failure in enforcing least privilege principles within the application architecture.
To mitigate this risk, developers must implement rigorous input validation and strict permission enforcement for all broadcast receivers handling sensitive system events. Specifically, the handleAudioEffectBroadcast method should verify that incoming intents originate from trusted sources by checking android:exported attributes carefully or using explicit permissions defined in the manifest file to restrict who can send these broadcasts. Additionally, implementing signature-level verification ensures that only applications signed with matching certificates can interact with critical audio effect handlers. Security teams should also conduct regular code audits focusing on inter-process communication patterns and ensure adherence to ATT&CK technique T1055 Process Injection or related privilege escalation vectors by hardening the attack surface of system services against unauthorized broadcast injection.