CVE-2025-26450 Overview
CVE-2025-26450 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Google Android affecting the onInputEvent method of IInputMethodSessionWrapper.java. The flaw stems from a missing permission check [CWE-862] that allows an untrusted application to inject key and motion events into the default Input Method Editor (IME). Exploitation requires no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. The vulnerability affects Android versions 13, 14, and 15, and was addressed in the Android Security Bulletin dated June 1, 2025.
Critical Impact
An untrusted local application can inject synthetic input events into the default IME, enabling local escalation of privilege without user interaction.
Affected Products
- Google Android 13.0
- Google Android 14.0
- Google Android 15.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-01 - Google publishes fix in Android Security Bulletin
- 2025-09-04 - CVE-2025-26450 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26450
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the onInputEvent method of IInputMethodSessionWrapper.java, part of the Android framework responsible for dispatching input events to Input Method Editor sessions. The wrapper class exposes an inter-process communication (IPC) surface that the input method framework uses to relay keyboard and motion events between system components and the active IME. The affected code path fails to verify that the caller holds the appropriate permission before forwarding events into the IME session.
Because the default IME runs with elevated trust and typically handles sensitive user input, an untrusted app that reaches this IPC surface can dispatch attacker-controlled input events directly into the IME process. This bypass grants the attacker input-level control that would normally require system-level privileges or explicit user authorization.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862] in the onInputEvent binder entry point of IInputMethodSessionWrapper. The method processes and forwards input events without validating whether the calling UID holds the required system permission to inject events into the IME session.
Attack Vector
An attacker delivers a malicious application to the target device through sideloading or a compromised distribution channel. Once installed, the app uses standard Android IPC to invoke onInputEvent on the IME session wrapper and inject arbitrary KeyEvent and MotionEvent objects. The injected events execute in the trust context of the default IME, enabling local privilege escalation without any user interaction. Technical details are available in the Android Source Code Commit.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26450
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected installation of applications requesting minimal permissions but exhibiting unusual IPC activity against system_server or the active IME process.
- Anomalous input event patterns targeting the default IME package outside of normal user interaction windows.
- Applications making frequent binder calls to interfaces exposed by IInputMethodSessionWrapper.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Android endpoints and flag devices running Android 13, 14, or 15 without the June 2025 security patch level.
- Monitor mobile threat telemetry for applications that programmatically construct and dispatch KeyEvent or MotionEvent objects to system IME components.
- Review application sideloading events and correlate with anomalous input-injection behavior at runtime.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies that report the security patch level of each managed Android device.
- Alert on installations of applications outside of approved app stores on managed devices.
- Track process-level anomalies in the IME service, including unexpected input event bursts originating from third-party UIDs.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26450
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the June 2025 Android security patch level (2025-06-01) or later to all affected Android 13, 14, and 15 devices.
- Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources on managed devices through MDM policy.
- Audit installed third-party applications and remove those that are unnecessary or unverified.
Patch Information
Google addressed CVE-2025-26450 in the Android Security Bulletin June 2025. The upstream fix is available in the AOSP commit f48bf9a2e7c728d7010f8c9ad047fa76a869d3d4 in platform/frameworks/base, which introduces the missing permission enforcement in IInputMethodSessionWrapper.onInputEvent. Device manufacturers integrate the patch into vendor security updates delivered over the air.
Workarounds
- No official workaround exists; upgrading to a build with the 2025-06-01 or later security patch level is the only supported remediation.
- Where patching is delayed, limit device exposure by blocking sideloading and restricting installations to vetted enterprise or public app store sources.
- Enforce Google Play Protect and equivalent scanning to reduce the likelihood of installing an application that abuses this IPC surface.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
