CVE-2025-26452 Overview
CVE-2025-26452 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Android operating system. The flaw resides in the loadDrawableForCookie method of ResourcesImpl.java within the Android framework. A confused deputy condition allows a local application to access task snapshots belonging to other apps. Exploitation requires no user interaction and no additional execution privileges beyond those already granted to a local app. Google addressed the issue in the June 2025 Android Security Bulletin.
Critical Impact
A local unprivileged application can access task snapshots of other apps, exposing sensitive on-screen content and enabling privilege escalation on Android 14 and 15 devices.
Affected Products
- Google Android 14.0
- Google Android 15.0
- Android framework component frameworks/base (ResourcesImpl.java)
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-04 - CVE-2025-26452 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2025-06-01 - Google releases the Android Security Bulletin containing the fix
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26452
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-441: Unintended Proxy or Intermediary (Confused Deputy). Android caches task snapshots, which are thumbnail images of recent app UI states used by the recents screen and window transitions. These snapshots may contain sensitive content such as banking information, messages, or authentication interfaces.
The loadDrawableForCookie method in ResourcesImpl.java acts as a deputy that resolves and loads drawable resources on behalf of a caller. Because the method does not sufficiently validate the ownership or access scope of the requested resource, a local app can request drawable resources that resolve to another application's task snapshot storage. The framework, running with higher privileges, honors the request and returns the snapshot to the caller.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing caller-identity enforcement inside loadDrawableForCookie. The framework treats the requesting app as authorized to receive any drawable it can name, rather than verifying that the target snapshot belongs to the caller. This is a classic confused deputy pattern where a privileged component performs an action for a less-privileged caller without validating the target.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is local. A malicious application installed on the device invokes the affected code path with crafted parameters that reference another app's task snapshot resource. The framework returns the drawable data, exposing recent UI captures of the victim app. No user interaction is required, and the malicious app needs no special permissions beyond standard installation. The result is a horizontal information disclosure that Google classifies as local escalation of privilege.
The vulnerability manifests in the drawable resolution logic of the Android framework. Refer to the Android Source Code Update for the patch commit details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26452
Indicators of Compromise
- Applications making unexpected calls into resource-loading APIs referencing package names or resource identifiers outside their own scope.
- Unusual reads against /data/system_ce/<user>/snapshots/ or the task snapshot cache directories by non-system processes.
- Third-party apps requesting access to Resources or AssetManager objects associated with foreign packages.
Detection Strategies
- Perform static analysis of installed APKs for reflective access to ResourcesImpl, AssetManager, or drawable loading APIs referencing other packages.
- Monitor Android runtime logs for repeated loadDrawableForCookie invocations from user-installed applications.
- Use mobile threat defense tooling to flag applications that enumerate installed packages combined with resource-loading calls.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enroll Android 14 and 15 devices in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform that reports current security patch levels.
- Alert on devices with a security patch level earlier than 2025-06-01.
- Review sideloaded application inventories and restrict installation sources on managed fleets.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26452
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the June 2025 Android security patch level (2025-06-01) or later on all Android 14 and 15 devices.
- Enforce a minimum security patch level policy through MDM and quarantine devices that fall behind.
- Remove untrusted or sideloaded applications from managed devices until patching is confirmed.
Patch Information
Google published the fix in the Android Security Bulletin 2025-06-01. The upstream code change is available in the Android Source Code Update, which adds caller validation to the affected drawable-loading path in ResourcesImpl.java. Device vendors incorporate this fix into their respective monthly OTA updates.
Workarounds
- Restrict application installation to Google Play or vetted enterprise stores until the patch is deployed.
- Disable the recents screen preview on sensitive apps using FLAG_SECURE at the application level where developers control the code.
- Enforce work profile separation so sensitive corporate apps run in an isolated user profile with restricted app installation.
# Verify the Android security patch level on a device via ADB
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output: 2025-06-01 or later
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
