Local privilege escalation via background activity launch bypass
Published Sep 8, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026
Elevation of privilege in Google Android 16, 16-qpr2, and 17 allows local users to launch an activity from the background. LauncherAppsService.java's buildIntentSenderForUser operation permits a background activity launch that bypasses Android's BAL restrictions. A local application can trigger the bypass without additional execution privileges or user interaction, causing an unauthorized foreground activity to run.
Summary
What happened
Elevation of privilege in Google Android 16, 16-qpr2, and 17 allows local users to launch an activity from the background. LauncherAppsService.java's buildIntentSenderForUser operation permits a background activity launch that bypasses Android's BAL restrictions. A local application can trigger the bypass without additional execution privileges or user interaction, causing an unauthorized foreground activity to run.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-28663
- Published
- Sep 8, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- 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=16
- Affected versionversion=16-qpr2
- Affected versionversion=17
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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