Local privilege escalation via Bluetooth key validation
Published Sep 8, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026
Improper encryption-key validation in Google Android 14, 15, 16, and 16-qpr2 allows local users to escalate privileges through Bluetooth. The Bluetooth stack inconsistently enforces minimum encryption-key requirements while processing pairing commands, key refreshes, and encryption changes. Exploitation requires local access but needs neither additional execution privileges nor user interaction, allowing the intended privilege boundary to be crossed.
Summary
What happened
Improper encryption-key validation in Google Android 14, 15, 16, and 16-qpr2 allows local users to escalate privileges through Bluetooth. The Bluetooth stack inconsistently enforces minimum encryption-key requirements while processing pairing commands, key refreshes, and encryption changes. Exploitation requires local access but needs neither additional execution privileges nor user interaction, allowing the intended privilege boundary to be crossed.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-28590
- Published
- Sep 8, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 10, 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
- Affected versionversion=16
- Affected versionversion=16-qpr2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
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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