Skip to main content

Android EUVDEUVD-2026-33811

| CVE-2026-28577 HIGH
Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames (CWE-1021)
2026-06-01 google_android GHSA-2cvw-44hj-3wxw
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: google_android
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Install malicious app with overlay permission
  2. Delivery
    Monitor foreground activity stack
  3. Exploit
    Call addWindow to place crafted overlay
  4. Execution
    Capture taps intended for privileged dialog
  5. Persist
    Gain elevated Android permissions
  6. Impact
    Access protected user data and APIs

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V3 - Web Frontend Security Clickjacking prevention, X-Frame-Options
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires (1) a malicious application already installed on the device with at least the low privileges implied by CVSS PR:L - typically the SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW / 'Display over other apps' permission or an equivalent overlay capability - and (2) the device running an unpatched build of Android 14, 15, 16, or 16-qpr2 prior to the 2026-06-01 Security Patch Level. Limiting factors: the attack is local-only (AV:L, no remote network reach), it cannot be triggered against a stock device with no attacker-controlled app installed, and although the CVSS marks UI:N, the overlay technique inherently depends on the victim subsequently interacting with a sensitive screen the attacker can predict and cover. Devices that have disabled or never granted 'Display over other apps' to the malicious app are not exploitable via the documented vector.

Impact

The CVSS base of 7.8 with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates a locally-exploitable, low-complexity issue requiring some pre-existing privilege (an installed app) but no user interaction, yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact - consistent with privilege escalation on mobile. SSVC reinforces this: Exploitation=none (no observed attacks), Automatable=no (each victim requires a targeted overlay timed to a specific UI flow), Technical Impact=total. There is no CISA KEV listing and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, so this should be prioritized as a standard monthly Android Security Bulletin patch rather than an emergency. Note the apparent tension between the CVSS string (PR:L, UI:N) and the description's mention of a tapjacking/overlay attack, which conceptually depends on the user tapping the overlay - defenders should treat 'no user interaction' as referring to no consent dialog acknowledgement rather than zero user activity, and verify the precise trigger with Google's bulletin.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A user sideloads or downloads from Play a seemingly benign utility app that requests 'Display over other apps'; in the background it monitors foreground activities and, when a privileged system dialog (e.g., a runtime permission grant or a Device Admin enablement screen) appears, it calls addWindow to render a transparent overlay containing crafted UI that captures the tap intended for the 'Allow' button. The victim believes they are tapping the malicious app's own button but actually grants the malicious app elevated privileges. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but the technique is well-documented in mobile security research and is straightforward to weaponize once the addWindow validation gap is understood.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Jun 02, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Google Android (versions 14, 15, 16, and 16-qpr2) stems from a tapjacking/overlay weakness in the addWindow function of WindowManagerService.java. A locally-installed malicious app holding low privileges can draw deceptive overlays to hijack user taps and gain elevated permissions without requiring further user interaction. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and SSVC indicates exploitation is not currently observed, but technical impact is rated total.

RemediationAI

Apply the June 2026 Android Security Bulletin (Patch available per vendor advisory at https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2026/2026-06-01) by updating affected devices to the 2026-06-01 or later Security Patch Level for the corresponding Android 14, 15, 16, and 16-qpr2 branches; OEM and carrier rollouts will determine the exact build string per device. Until the SPL is installed, compensating controls include restricting sideloading and Play Protect bypass on managed fleets, revoking the SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW / 'Display over other apps' permission for non-essential apps via Settings or MDM (trade-off: breaks legitimate overlay apps such as chat heads, password managers, and accessibility tools), and enabling the platform 'Hide overlays during permission requests' protection where supported (trade-off: minimal, but does not cover non-permission sensitive surfaces). Enterprise admins should also audit installed apps for the BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE permission, which is frequently abused alongside overlay attacks.

Affected VersionsENISA

Android 14
Android 16
Android 15
Android 16-qpr2

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw resides in WindowManagerService.java, the core Android system service that arbitrates window creation, layering, and input dispatching for every app surface on the device. The addWindow code path is responsible for validating new window requests before they are added to the display hierarchy, and the missing or insufficient check enables an attacker-controlled window to be positioned over a sensitive UI element such as a permission consent dialog. This maps to CWE-1021 (Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames), the classic UI-redress / clickjacking weakness class. Although the tag set mentions XSS, the CWE and description make clear this is a native Android UI overlay (tapjacking) issue, not a web-context cross-site scripting bug.

Know when the next one hits your stack

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (google_android) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from Vendor (google_android) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: google_android

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

3
CVSS changed
Jun 01, 2026 - 23:22 NVD
7.8 (HIGH)
CVE Published
Jun 01, 2026 - 21:14 nvd
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Jun 01, 2026 - 21:14 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

In addWindow of WindowManagerService.java, there is a possible tapjacking issue due to a tapjacking/overlay attack. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability in Google Android (versions 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2) permits installed applications to execute overlay-based tap hijacking attacks, escalating permissions without explicit user authorization. No publicly available exploit code exists at this time, though the attack methodology is technically straightforward. With no vendor patch currently available, the organization must implement device-level compensating controls and prepare for potential privilege escalation incidents across the Android device fleet.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) Restrict SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW and overlay-related permissions to system applications through MDM policy; (2) Enforce application allowlist or blocklist approach for high-risk devices; (3) Deploy Mobile Threat Defense capable of detecting privilege escalation behavioral patterns; (4) Disable sideloading and restrict app installation to official app stores via MDM; (5) Increase logging and alerting for permission-related system calls on affected devices; (6) Isolate or restrict network access of devices in high-security roles pending patch release.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 100% exploitable
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy