CVE-2026-18853 Overview
CVE-2026-18853 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in the ZomboDroid Meme Generator application, version 4.6830, for Android. The flaw resides in the t5.l.c function of the com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator component. An attacker with local access to the device can manipulate input to traverse directory boundaries and access files outside the intended storage scope. The exploit details have been disclosed publicly. The vendor was notified before public disclosure but did not respond.
Critical Impact
Local path traversal allows a co-resident application or user to read or write files outside the Meme Generator app's intended directory, exposing user data on Android devices running version 4.6830.
Affected Products
- ZomboDroid Meme Generator App version 4.6830 for Android
- Vulnerable component: com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator
- Vulnerable function: t5.l.c
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-05 - CVE-2026-18853 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-08-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-18853
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a path traversal weakness classified under [CWE-22]. The t5.l.c function in the com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator package accepts input used to construct a file path without properly sanitizing traversal sequences such as ../. An attacker with local access can supply crafted path segments that resolve outside the app's expected working directory. This allows unauthorized read or write access to files that should remain isolated by Android's per-application storage model.
Because exploitation requires local access and low privileges, the impact scope is limited to what the Meme Generator process can reach on the device. However, path traversal in an Android context can expose shared storage locations, cached user content, or intermediate files that the app has permission to touch.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation on file path parameters processed by t5.l.c. The function does not canonicalize the supplied path or reject sequences that navigate above the intended base directory. As a result, relative traversal payloads reach the underlying file I/O routines.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local. An attacker needs the ability to invoke the vulnerable code path on the target device, typically through a co-resident malicious app, an intent, or crafted input passed to the Meme Generator process. No network access is required, and user interaction is not part of the exploitation prerequisites according to the CVSS 4.0 vector. A public proof-of-concept is available in the GitHub PoC Repository. Additional details are published on VulDB.
The vulnerability manifests when unsanitized path segments reach file operations inside the com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator component. See the referenced advisories for the technical proof-of-concept.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-18853
Indicators of Compromise
- Presence of com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator version 4.6830 installed on managed Android devices
- File access events from the Meme Generator process targeting paths containing ../ sequences or resolving outside its private data directory
- Unexpected reads or writes by the app to shared storage locations or cache directories belonging to other apps
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Android endpoints for the vulnerable package name and version using mobile device management (MDM) telemetry
- Monitor Android application sandbox boundaries for file operations by com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator that reference parent directory traversal patterns
- Review intents received by the Meme Generator component for file path parameters containing traversal sequences
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest MDM and mobile threat defense logs into a centralized data lake to correlate app version data with file access anomalies
- Alert on installation of com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator 4.6830 on corporate-managed devices
- Track outbound file writes from the app to locations outside its designated sandbox directory
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-18853
Immediate Actions Required
- Uninstall ZomboDroid Meme Generator version 4.6830 from managed Android devices until a fixed release is available
- Restrict installation of the app through MDM policies where enterprise data may be exposed on the same device
- Audit devices for the presence of the vulnerable package and prioritize removal on devices holding sensitive data
Patch Information
No vendor patch is available. According to the disclosure, the vendor was contacted before publication but did not respond. Track the VulDB Vulnerability Information entry for updates on any future fix.
Workarounds
- Remove the application from affected Android devices as the primary mitigation
- Avoid opening files or intents from untrusted sources within the Meme Generator app
- Enforce Android work profile separation so personal apps cannot access corporate data
# Example: enumerate the vulnerable package on a device via ADB
adb shell pm list packages | grep com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator
adb shell dumpsys package com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator | grep versionName
adb uninstall com.zombodroid.MemeGenerator
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
