CVE-2025-26462 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The flaw exists in the AccessibilityServiceConnection.java component, where a logic error allows a background activity launch without proper privilege checks. This vulnerability enables a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to escalate their privileges on the device without requiring any user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), as an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system or application states, and disrupt normal device operations. The attack vector is local, meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the device, but no additional execution privileges are needed beyond that. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating a failure to enforce correct privilege boundaries within the Android accessibility service framework. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high CVSS score (7.8) and the nature of the vulnerability suggest that exploitation could lead to significant compromise of affected devices. The absence of user interaction requirements increases the risk, as exploitation can occur silently in the background. This vulnerability is critical for Android devices, which are widely used across Europe in both consumer and enterprise environments, including smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems. The flaw could be leveraged by malicious local applications or attackers who gain temporary physical or logical access to devices to elevate privileges and potentially install persistent malware or exfiltrate sensitive information.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for sectors relying heavily on Android devices for secure communications, mobile workforce operations, or IoT deployments. The ability to escalate privileges locally without user interaction means that compromised or malicious apps could silently gain elevated rights, bypassing security controls and potentially accessing confidential corporate data or critical system functions. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to corporate networks, or disruption of business processes. Organizations in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government are particularly vulnerable due to strict data protection requirements under GDPR and other regulations. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in mobile device management (MDM) solutions if exploited on managed devices. Additionally, the flaw could be exploited in targeted attacks against high-value individuals or entities within Europe, facilitating espionage or sabotage. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity and ease of exploitation warrant immediate attention.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation strategies: 1) Immediate patching: Although no patch links are provided, organizations must monitor Google’s official security bulletins and Android security updates to apply patches as soon as they become available. 2) Restrict installation of untrusted or third-party applications, especially those requesting accessibility service permissions, to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3) Implement strict application vetting and use enterprise app stores or Mobile Application Management (MAM) solutions to control app deployment. 4) Employ runtime protection and behavior monitoring tools on Android devices to detect anomalous activity indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of granting accessibility permissions and the importance of device security hygiene. 6) For high-security environments, consider using Android Enterprise Recommended devices with enforced security policies and regular compliance checks. 7) Monitor device logs and security alerts for signs of suspicious activity related to accessibility services. 8) Limit physical access to devices and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to prevent local attackers from gaining initial access.