CVE-2025-26427 is a medium-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13 and 14. The root cause is a path traversal error in multiple locations related to Android/data access. Path traversal vulnerabilities occur when an application improperly sanitizes user-supplied input, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths to access directories and files outside the intended scope. In this case, the vulnerability allows a local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the device without requiring additional execution privileges. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious file or link, which triggers the path traversal and grants unauthorized access to restricted data or functionality. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-24 (Improper Restriction of File Paths), indicating a failure to properly validate file path inputs. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw could be leveraged by malicious apps or local attackers to bypass Android's security model, potentially accessing sensitive data or performing unauthorized actions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting low attack vector (local), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction, with limited impact on confidentiality and integrity, and no impact on availability. No patches or fixes are currently linked, so affected users should be cautious until updates are available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to employees and users relying on Android 13 and 14 devices. The elevation of privilege could allow attackers to access sensitive corporate data stored on mobile devices or escalate privileges to bypass security controls, potentially leading to data leakage or unauthorized actions within enterprise environments. Although exploitation requires user interaction and local access, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could trick users into triggering the vulnerability. This risk is heightened in sectors with high mobile device usage and sensitive information, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability, but the compromise of confidentiality and integrity could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Additionally, the lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate threat levels, but organizations should remain vigilant given the potential for future exploitation.

Organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installations and restrict permissions, minimizing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability. 2) Educate users on the risks of opening untrusted files or links, emphasizing caution with unexpected messages or attachments to reduce user interaction exploitation vectors. 3) Monitor for unusual local privilege escalation attempts on Android devices using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools tailored for mobile platforms. 4) Maintain up-to-date inventories of Android devices and ensure timely application of security patches once Google releases fixes for this vulnerability. 5) Limit sensitive data storage on mobile devices or use containerization and encryption to reduce impact if a device is compromised. 6) Collaborate with mobile security vendors to deploy behavioral analytics that can detect exploitation attempts related to path traversal or privilege escalation. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, device management, and proactive detection tailored to this specific vulnerability.