Local privilege escalation via permission squatting
Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Permission squatting in Google Cloud Android 14 and 15 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through RoleService without user interaction. RoleService's getDefaultApplicationAsUser and setDefaultApplicationAsUser methods check MANAGE_DEFAULT_APPLICATIONS without rejecting platforms where that permission is undefined, allowing a malicious app to define and acquire the permission first. Local app execution is sufficient; no additional execution privileges or user interaction is required, and the consequence is limited to local privilege escalation.
Summary
What happened
Permission squatting in Google Cloud Android 14 and 15 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through RoleService without user interaction. RoleService's getDefaultApplicationAsUser and setDefaultApplicationAsUser methods check MANAGE_DEFAULT_APPLICATIONS without rejecting platforms where that permission is undefined, allowing a malicious app to define and acquire the permission first. Local app execution is sufficient; no additional execution privileges or user interaction is required, and the consequence is limited to local privilege escalation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-26425
- Published
- Sep 4, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- CWE-266, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=14
- Affected versionversion=15
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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