CVE-2025-26429 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The flaw resides in the collectOps method of the AppOpsService.java component, where improper input validation can be exploited to cause a permanent local denial of service (DoS). Specifically, the vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters, classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation). An attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) can trigger this DoS condition without requiring any user interaction, making exploitation relatively straightforward once access to the device is obtained. The impact is limited to availability, as confidentiality and integrity are not affected. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges beyond low-level access, and no remote network vector is involved (attack vector is local). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability could cause the affected Android system to become unresponsive or require a reboot to recover, potentially disrupting normal device operations permanently until remediation. This issue is significant because Android is widely deployed in mobile devices, and the affected versions are recent major releases, implying a broad potential impact.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could disrupt mobile device availability, particularly for employees relying on Android devices for critical business functions. The DoS condition could lead to loss of productivity, inability to access corporate resources, and increased support costs due to device recovery or replacement. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where mobile device availability is crucial, this could impact operational continuity. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or system compromise, the denial of service could be leveraged in targeted attacks to cause disruption or as part of a multi-stage attack chain. Since exploitation requires local access, insider threats or physical device access scenarios are the primary risk vectors. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated or scripted exploitation once access is gained. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, especially as threat actors may develop exploits over time.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Monitor for official patches or updates from Google and Android device manufacturers and deploy them promptly once available. 2) Implement strict device access controls to limit local access to authorized personnel only, including enforcing strong lock screen protections and device encryption. 3) Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor device health and detect abnormal behavior indicative of attempted exploitation. 4) Educate users about the risks of granting device access to untrusted parties and the importance of physical device security. 5) For high-risk environments, consider restricting use of affected Android versions or deploying alternative devices until patches are available. 6) Maintain incident response plans that include procedures for handling device DoS scenarios to minimize operational impact. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and operational preparedness specific to this vulnerability's characteristics.