CVE-2026-0112: Google Android Privilege Escalation Bug

CVE-2026-0112 Overview

A use after free vulnerability exists in the vpu_open_inst function within vpu_ioctl.c of Google Android. The vulnerability stems from a race condition that can be triggered locally, leading to escalation of privilege without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction.

Critical Impact
This vulnerability enables local privilege escalation on affected Android devices through exploitation of a race condition in the VPU (Video Processing Unit) driver, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated system access.

Affected Products

Google Android (all versions without the March 2026 security patch)

Discovery Timeline

2026-03-10 - CVE-2026-0112 published to NVD
2026-03-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-0112

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-362 (Race Condition). The flaw exists in the vpu_open_inst function, which handles instance opening operations for the Video Processing Unit driver. Due to improper synchronization between concurrent threads accessing shared resources, a race condition occurs that can lead to a use after free condition.

When the race condition is successfully triggered, memory that has been freed can be accessed again, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory in unexpected ways. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in kernel-level drivers because successful exploitation grants the attacker elevated privileges at the system level.

The attack requires local access to the device but does not require any special privileges or user interaction, making it exploitable by any application running on the device.

Root Cause

The root cause is a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition in the VPU IOCTL handler. The vpu_open_inst function fails to properly synchronize access to shared data structures when handling concurrent requests. This allows a timing window where memory can be freed by one thread while another thread still holds a reference to it, resulting in a use after free condition.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have code execution on the target Android device. A malicious application could exploit this vulnerability by:

Creating multiple threads that simultaneously invoke the vulnerable vpu_open_inst IOCTL
Timing the requests to trigger the race condition window
Causing the VPU driver to access freed memory
Manipulating the freed memory to achieve arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges

The vulnerability exists in the kernel VPU driver, so successful exploitation results in kernel-level privilege escalation. No specific exploitation code is publicly available for this vulnerability. For technical details on race condition exploitation in Android drivers, refer to the Android Security Bulletin.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-0112

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual activity involving the VPU driver or /dev/vpu device nodes
Multiple rapid IOCTL calls to VPU driver from non-media applications
Kernel log messages indicating memory corruption or use after free conditions
Unexpected privilege elevation by unprivileged applications

Detection Strategies

Monitor for applications making excessive or suspicious IOCTL calls to VPU drivers
Implement kernel address sanitizer (KASAN) to detect use after free conditions in testing environments
Deploy mobile threat detection solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level anomalies
Review application permissions and behavior for unauthorized media hardware access

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable SELinux in enforcing mode to restrict access to VPU device nodes
Configure audit logging for access to /dev/vpu and related VPU devices
Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with Android kernel monitoring capabilities
Monitor for applications attempting to spawn excessive threads targeting driver interfaces

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-0112

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the March 2026 Android Security Patch immediately on all affected devices
Restrict installation of applications from unknown sources
Enable Google Play Protect to scan for potentially harmful applications
Review and audit third-party applications with media or hardware access permissions

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in the March 2026 Android Security Bulletin. The fix implements proper locking mechanisms in the vpu_open_inst function to prevent the race condition from occurring.

Patch resources:

Organizations should ensure all Android devices are updated to security patch level 2026-03-01 or later. For enterprise deployments, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce security patch compliance.

Workarounds

Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) to restrict application installations to trusted sources only
Implement application allowlisting to prevent execution of untrusted code
Consider disabling or restricting access to VPU functionality where not required for business operations
Deploy mobile threat defense solutions to detect exploitation attempts

bash

# Verify Android security patch level on device
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output: 2026-03-01 or later