CVE-2026-45525: Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CVE-2026-45525 Overview

CVE-2026-45525 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting Android. The flaw stems from improper data sanitization caused by a logic error present in multiple locations within the affected code. An authenticated local attacker can exploit the weakness to access sensitive information without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation and is documented in the Android Security Bulletin September 2026.

Critical Impact
Local attackers with low privileges can obtain sensitive data from an affected Android device without user interaction, potentially exposing information usable in follow-on attacks.

Affected Products

Android (version details listed in the September 2026 Android Security Bulletin)
Android Open Source Project (AOSP) components referenced in the bulletin
Devices from OEMs consuming the September 2026 Android security patch level

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-08 - CVE-2026-45525 published to NVD
2026-09-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-45525

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an improper input validation weakness (CWE-20) caused by a logic error in the sanitization routines used in multiple locations within the affected Android code. Because sanitization is incomplete, data that should be filtered or redacted before being returned to a caller can leak to a lower-privileged context on the same device.

Exploitation requires only local access with low privileges. A malicious application already installed on the device, or a compromised process, can trigger the vulnerable code path and receive information it should not be able to observe. No user interaction is needed, which makes the flaw suitable for silent, background collection.

While the confidentiality impact is limited in scope, disclosed data can support privilege escalation, identity attacks, or targeted follow-on exploitation when combined with other weaknesses. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin September 2026 for component-level detail.

Root Cause

The root cause is a logic error in sanitization code that appears in multiple locations. The affected routines fail to correctly filter or redact sensitive fields before returning data across a trust boundary, resulting in information disclosure to a co-resident local process.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An attacker with an unprivileged foothold on the device — for example, a sideloaded or malicious app — invokes the affected interface and reads information that should be restricted. No user tap, prompt, or additional privilege escalation step is required.

No verified public proof-of-concept is available. See the Android Security Bulletin September 2026 for technical detail on the vulnerable code paths.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-45525

Indicators of Compromise

No public indicators of compromise have been published for this vulnerability at the time of writing.
Presence of applications on a device that invoke sensitive Android system APIs without a clear functional need.
Devices still reporting a security patch level earlier than September 2026 after policy-mandated update windows.

Detection Strategies

Enforce mobile device management (MDM) policies that report the Android security patch level of each enrolled device and flag devices below the September 2026 patch level.
Monitor installed application inventories for apps requesting broad system-level permissions inconsistent with their stated function.
Correlate anomalous local IPC or content-provider access patterns with unprivileged applications using mobile threat defense telemetry.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track compliance with the September 2026 Android security patch level across the mobile fleet.
Alert on newly sideloaded APKs on managed devices, especially those originating from outside approved distribution channels.
Review mobile threat defense logs for repeated failed or unusual queries against sensitive system components.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-45525

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the September 2026 Android security patch level to all managed and personal devices in scope.
Prioritize patch rollout on devices holding regulated data, executive accounts, or privileged access to enterprise systems.
Restrict sideloading and enforce installation only from vetted application stores through MDM configuration.
Review high-risk applications for excessive permissions and remove those without a documented business need.

Patch Information

Google addressed CVE-2026-45525 in the September 2026 Android Security Bulletin. Devices must be on the 2026-09-01 security patch level or later to receive the fix. OEM and carrier release schedules vary, so administrators should confirm availability with the specific device vendor. Full details are published in the Android Security Bulletin September 2026.

Workarounds

Limit installation of untrusted or sideloaded applications until the patch is available for the device model.
Segregate sensitive workloads onto devices that already meet the September 2026 patch level.
Use work-profile separation to reduce exposure of enterprise data to unmanaged applications on shared devices.

bash

# Verify the Android security patch level on a connected device
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for remediated devices: 2026-09-01 or later