CVE-2025-26426 is a medium-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The vulnerability exists in the BroadcastController.java component, specifically within the registerReceiverWithFeatureTraced method. Due to improper input validation, it is possible for an attacker to receive broadcasts that are intended exclusively for the "android" package. This flaw allows a local attacker to escalate privileges without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability stems from CWE-20, indicating improper input validation, which can lead to unauthorized access or actions. Exploitation does not require user interaction or prior privileges, making it a local attack vector with relatively low complexity. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.1, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and limited impact on confidentiality and integrity but no impact on availability (C:L/I:L/A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation efforts should be prioritized to prevent potential exploitation as the vulnerability becomes more widely known.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to environments where Android devices are used extensively, including enterprise mobile deployments, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios, and critical operational contexts relying on Android smartphones or tablets. An attacker with local access to a vulnerable device could leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functions that are normally restricted. While the impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited, the ability to escalate privileges without user interaction increases the risk of stealthy attacks, insider threats, or malware persistence. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where Android devices are used for secure communications or operational tasks. The lack of requirement for user interaction means that the attack could be automated or triggered silently, increasing the threat surface. However, since exploitation requires local access, remote attacks are not feasible without prior compromise, somewhat limiting the scope of impact.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation strategies: 1) Prioritize updating Android devices to patched versions as soon as Google releases security updates addressing CVE-2025-26426. 2) Enforce strict device management policies using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app installations and restrict local access to devices, minimizing the risk of local attackers exploiting this vulnerability. 3) Monitor and audit local device access logs to detect unusual privilege escalations or unauthorized broadcast reception attempts. 4) Limit physical access to devices, especially in high-security environments, to prevent attackers from gaining local access. 5) Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted apps or granting unnecessary permissions that could facilitate local exploitation. 6) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to reduce the impact of privilege escalation on critical applications. 7) Collaborate with vendors and security teams to stay informed about patches and emerging exploit techniques related to this vulnerability.