CVE-2026-58969 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
In multiple functions of MediaQualityService.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure 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 Android framework component MediaQualityService.java represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper access control mechanisms. Specifically, multiple functions within this service fail to enforce mandatory permission checks before executing sensitive operations. In the context of mobile operating systems like Android, services often handle privileged data or perform actions that require specific system-level permissions to ensure integrity and confidentiality. The absence of these checks means that any application installed on the device can invoke these methods without possessing the requisite privileges, effectively bypassing the security model designed to isolate applications from one another. This type of flaw is a classic example of an authorization failure where the software does not properly verify whether the caller has the right to perform the requested action before proceeding with execution.
From a technical perspective, this missing permission check allows for local information disclosure by unauthorized processes. Since user interaction is not required for exploitation, an attacker can craft a malicious application that silently calls these vulnerable functions in the background. Once invoked, the service may return sensitive media quality metrics or other internal state data to the calling process. This data could potentially reveal details about the device's configuration, connected networks, or even content processing states that should remain private. The lack of user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited stealthily without alerting the victim, allowing for persistent and undetected information gathering over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, primarily affecting the confidentiality aspect of security within the Android ecosystem. By leveraging this flaw, a malicious app could gather intelligence about other applications or system states that are not intended to be accessible. This can facilitate further attacks by providing an attacker with contextual information needed for more sophisticated exploits. For instance, knowledge of specific media processing capabilities or quality settings might aid in crafting targeted denial-of-service attacks or bypassing other security controls that rely on these parameters. The vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it allows an attacker to use legitimate system mechanisms in unauthorized ways to gain access to restricted information.
Mitigation strategies for this issue must focus on enforcing strict permission checks within the affected functions of MediaQualityService.java. Developers should implement explicit verification using Android's built-in security APIs, such as checkCallingPermission or enforcePermission, at the beginning of each vulnerable method. This ensures that only processes with the appropriate signature permissions can invoke these services. Additionally, adopting a principle of least privilege is essential; services should be configured to require the minimum set of permissions necessary for their operation. Regular code audits and static analysis tools capable of detecting missing permission checks are recommended to identify similar flaws in other components. Furthermore, updating to patched versions of the Android framework where this issue has been resolved by Google is the most effective immediate remediation step for end-users and device manufacturers.