CVE-2025-26463 is a vulnerability identified in Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15, specifically within the allowPackageAccess functionality. The issue arises from resource exhaustion caused by repeatedly adding allowed packages, which can lead to a local persistent denial of service (DoS) condition. This vulnerability does not require any additional execution privileges or user interaction to exploit, meaning that an attacker with local access to the device can trigger the condition without needing to trick the user or escalate privileges. The root cause is the improper handling of resource allocation when managing allowed packages, leading to exhaustion of system resources such as memory or handles. The persistent nature of the DoS indicates that the system remains in a degraded or non-functional state until a reboot or other recovery action is taken. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a concern for devices running the affected Android versions. The absence of a CVSS score suggests that the vulnerability has not yet been fully assessed for severity, but the technical details indicate a significant impact on availability. Since the vulnerability is local and does not require user interaction, it could be exploited by malicious apps or users with local access to the device, such as through physical access or via other compromised apps. The lack of patch links implies that fixes may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to mobile devices running Android versions 13 through 15, which are widely used across enterprises and by employees for business communications and operations. A successful exploitation could result in denial of service on affected devices, causing disruption of critical mobile applications, loss of productivity, and potential interruption of communication channels. Persistent DoS conditions could necessitate device reboots or factory resets, leading to operational downtime and increased support costs. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where mobile device availability is crucial, this could impact service delivery and compliance with data availability requirements. Moreover, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk if employees' devices are affected and exploited locally. Although the vulnerability requires local access, insider threats or attackers leveraging other vulnerabilities to gain local access could exploit this issue to degrade device availability. The lack of user interaction requirement further lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained. Given the widespread use of Android devices in Europe, the impact could be significant, especially in environments where device uptime is critical.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Monitor for updates and patches from Google and device manufacturers and prioritize prompt deployment once available. 2) Restrict local access to devices by enforcing strong physical security controls and device lock policies to prevent unauthorized local exploitation. 3) Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor device health and detect abnormal resource usage patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary applications that could attempt to exploit this vulnerability by enforcing strict app whitelisting and permission controls. 5) Educate users on the risks of local device access and encourage reporting of unusual device behavior such as frequent crashes or unresponsiveness. 6) For critical environments, consider temporarily restricting use of affected Android versions or isolating devices until patches are applied. 7) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation and DoS vectors to identify potential exploitation paths. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring resource usage, and enforcing strict application controls tailored to this specific resource exhaustion vulnerability.