CVE-2025-26454 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The issue resides in the validateUriSchemeAndPermission function within the DisclaimersParserImpl.java component. This vulnerability is caused by a confused deputy problem, where the function improperly validates URI schemes and permissions, allowing a malicious local user or process to access data belonging to another user on the same device. Exploitation does not require any additional execution privileges beyond what the attacker already possesses, nor does it require any user interaction, making it a stealthy and potentially reliable method for privilege escalation. The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass intended access controls, thereby escalating their privileges locally on the device. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw’s nature suggests it could be leveraged to compromise data confidentiality and integrity on affected devices. Since Android is widely used across many device types, including smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems, this vulnerability could have broad implications if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-26454 could be significant, especially for enterprises relying on Android devices for sensitive communications, mobile workforce operations, or IoT deployments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to access or manipulate data belonging to other users on the same device, potentially leading to unauthorized data disclosure, tampering, or further lateral movement within corporate environments. This risk is heightened in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where sensitive personal or classified information is handled on mobile devices. Additionally, since no user interaction is required, the vulnerability could be exploited silently, making detection and response more challenging. The lack of a patch at the time of publication increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations. The vulnerability also poses risks to privacy compliance under regulations like GDPR, as unauthorized data access could lead to breaches of personal data.

Given the absence of an official patch at the time of this report, European organizations should implement several specific mitigation strategies: 1) Enforce strict device usage policies limiting installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps that could exploit local vulnerabilities. 2) Utilize Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and restrict app permissions and isolate user profiles to minimize cross-user data access. 3) Apply runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous local privilege escalation attempts. 4) Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation and encourage prompt reporting of suspicious device behavior. 5) When patches become available, prioritize rapid deployment across all affected Android devices, especially those used in sensitive or critical roles. 6) Consider segmenting mobile device networks and enforcing strong authentication to reduce the impact of compromised devices. 7) Regularly audit device configurations and installed software to identify potential vectors for exploitation.