CVE-2025-26458 Overview
CVE-2025-26458 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The flaw resides in multiple functions of LocationProviderManager.java within the Android framework. A logic error in the code permits an unauthorized background activity launch. Successful exploitation grants local escalation of privilege without requiring additional execution privileges. The vulnerability requires no user interaction, which lowers the exploitation barrier for a malicious local app. Google addressed the issue in the Android Security Bulletin dated June 1, 2025. The weakness is categorized under CWE-693, Protection Mechanism Failure.
Critical Impact
A local attacker with low privileges can bypass Android background activity launch restrictions through LocationProviderManager, escalating privileges without user interaction.
Affected Products
- Google Android 13.0
- Google Android 14.0
- Google Android 15.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-04 - CVE-2025-26458 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26458
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from a logic error in multiple functions within LocationProviderManager.java, a component of the Android framework responsible for managing location provider interactions. The flawed logic enables a background activity launch that should be blocked by Android's protection mechanisms. Android enforces background activity launch (BAL) restrictions to prevent unprivileged apps from starting foreground activities without user interaction. Bypassing these restrictions allows a local app to project user-interface activities into the foreground and act with the effective privileges of another context. The classification under [CWE-693] Protection Mechanism Failure reflects that a security control exists but does not function as intended.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in the state and condition checks that LocationProviderManager performs before permitting activity launches on behalf of location clients. The logic error allows code paths through the manager to reach an activity-launch primitive without satisfying the guard conditions required by Android's BAL policy. The upstream fix is available in the Android Source Code Commit, which modifies the affected LocationProviderManager.java logic.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access, meaning a malicious application must already be installed on the device with low-level privileges. The attacker application interacts with the LocationProviderManager service through Android's binder interfaces to trigger the vulnerable code path. Once the logic error is triggered, the process launches a background activity that would otherwise be denied. User interaction is not required, so the exploit can execute silently after the malicious app is installed. This can lead to phishing overlays, sensitive UI hijacking, or further privilege escalation in combination with other flaws.
The vulnerability manifests in the location provider management framework functions. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin June 2025 for the vendor's technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26458
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected foreground activities launched by apps without recent user interaction, particularly overlay or login-style screens.
- Applications repeatedly binding to or calling into LocationManagerService and LocationProviderManager outside of legitimate location usage.
- Presence of location client registrations from apps that do not declare or use location features in their manifest.
Detection Strategies
- Audit installed applications for anomalous invocation patterns against location services using Android platform logs (logcat) and system audit records.
- Monitor ActivityTaskManager and ActivityManager logs for background activity start events that lack corresponding user-input signals.
- Use mobile threat defense tooling to flag apps requesting location APIs but exhibiting activity-launch behavior inconsistent with location use.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track Android security patch level (SPL) across the fleet and alert on devices below the June 1, 2025 patch level.
- Ingest mobile device telemetry into a centralized data lake for correlation of privilege escalation indicators across the environment.
- Review app installation events and permission grants for location, overlay, and accessibility scopes on managed devices.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26458
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Android security update dated June 1, 2025 or later to all devices running Android 13, 14, and 15.
- Enforce a minimum Android security patch level policy through mobile device management (MDM) and quarantine non-compliant devices.
- Remove or restrict untrusted third-party applications, especially those sideloaded from outside Google Play.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Android Security Bulletin June 2025. The specific code fix is available in the Android Source Code Commit, which corrects the logic in LocationProviderManager.java. Device manufacturers integrate this patch into their vendor builds, so administrators should verify OEM-specific patch availability for their device models.
Workarounds
- No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching to the June 2025 Android security patch level is the authoritative remediation.
- Restrict installation of untrusted apps by disabling installation from unknown sources and enforcing Google Play Protect through MDM.
- Limit apps' ability to run in the background and revoke unnecessary location, overlay, and accessibility permissions on managed devices.
# Verify Android security patch level on a device via adb
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for patched devices: 2025-06-01 or later
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
