CVE-2025-26420 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13 and 14. The vulnerability resides in multiple functions within the GrantPermissionsActivity.java component, which is responsible for managing permission grants on the Android platform. The core issue is a permission overload scenario where the user can be tricked into granting incorrect permissions. This flaw allows an attacker to escalate privileges locally without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. Essentially, an attacker with local access to the device can exploit this vulnerability to gain higher privileges than intended, potentially bypassing security controls and accessing sensitive system functions or data. The absence of a need for user interaction significantly increases the risk, as exploitation can occur silently once the attacker has local access. The vulnerability does not have a CVSS score assigned yet and there are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. However, given the nature of the flaw—local privilege escalation without user interaction—and its presence in recent Android versions, it represents a significant security risk. The vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious applications or attackers who have gained limited access to the device to gain full control or access to restricted resources.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a serious risk especially for enterprises relying on Android devices for business operations, including mobile workforce management, secure communications, and access to corporate resources. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, interception of communications, or installation of persistent malware with elevated privileges. This could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate information systems. The lack of user interaction requirement means that even stealthy attacks are possible, increasing the risk of undetected breaches. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and regulatory requirements under GDPR and other data protection laws. Additionally, Android devices are widely used across Europe, making the attack surface large. The vulnerability could also facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks if compromised devices are connected to internal systems.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should prioritize updating Android devices to patched versions once Google releases a security update addressing CVE-2025-26420. 2. Device management: Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce update policies and restrict installation of untrusted applications. 3. Application control: Limit installation of apps from unknown sources and enforce strict app vetting policies. 4. Privilege monitoring: Implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual privilege escalations or suspicious activities on Android devices. 5. Network segmentation: Isolate mobile devices from critical internal networks to limit potential lateral movement in case of compromise. 6. User awareness: Although user interaction is not required, educating users about risks of installing untrusted apps can reduce initial local access vectors. 7. Incident response readiness: Prepare to quickly respond to any detected exploitation attempts by having forensic and remediation procedures in place. 8. Vendor communication: Maintain close communication with device vendors and Google for timely updates and advisories.