CVE-2025-26424 is a medium-severity information disclosure vulnerability found in Google Android version 15, specifically within multiple functions of the VpnManager.java component. The root cause is a logic error that leads to a cross-user data leak. This means that data intended to be isolated between different users on the same device could be improperly shared or exposed. The vulnerability does not require any additional execution privileges, nor does it require user interaction for exploitation, making it a local attack vector that can be triggered by an unprivileged local user or process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which relates to improper access control, indicating that the flaw arises from insufficient enforcement of access restrictions in the VPN management code. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.0, reflecting a low complexity attack vector (local), no privileges required, no user interaction, and limited impact confined to confidentiality (information disclosure) without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to the device to obtain sensitive information from other users on the same device, potentially including VPN configuration details or other private data managed by the VPN service. Given that Android 15 is the affected version, this vulnerability impacts devices running this latest Android release, which may include newer smartphones, tablets, and other Android-powered devices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-26424 is primarily related to confidentiality breaches on devices running Android 15. Organizations that issue Android devices to employees, especially those using VPN services to secure remote access, could face risks if an attacker gains local access to these devices. The information disclosure could expose sensitive VPN configurations or user data, potentially facilitating further attacks or unauthorized access to corporate networks. Although the vulnerability does not allow privilege escalation or remote exploitation, insider threats or malware with local access could exploit this flaw to gather confidential information. This is particularly relevant for sectors with strict data protection regulations such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe. The lack of required user interaction and privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained, increasing the risk in environments where device sharing or multi-user access is common. However, the absence of known exploits and the local nature of the attack vector limit the immediate widespread impact.

To mitigate CVE-2025-26424, European organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply official security patches from Google as soon as they become available for Android 15 devices. 2) Enforce strict device access controls to prevent unauthorized local access, including strong lock screen policies, biometric authentication, and session timeouts. 3) Limit multi-user device usage or segregate user profiles to reduce cross-user data exposure risks. 4) Deploy mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, monitor device integrity, and remotely wipe or lock compromised devices. 5) Educate users about the risks of local device compromise and encourage reporting of lost or stolen devices immediately. 6) Consider restricting VPN usage to trusted devices and ensure VPN client configurations do not store sensitive data unnecessarily. 7) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on local privilege and data isolation controls on Android devices. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access and user segregation, which are critical given the vulnerability’s local attack vector and cross-user data leak nature.