Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessAttacker installs or injects malicious local app
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DeliveryApp triggers MIFARE Classic NFC read via Android API
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ExploitMalformed read operation hits incorrect bounds check in rw_mfc_handle_read_op
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ExecutionOut-of-bounds write corrupts NFC service memory
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ImpactElevated code execution achieved in NFC daemon context
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Buffer copy size validation
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires local code execution on the Android device with at least low-privilege access (PR:L) - a process running under any ordinary app sandbox UID qualifies. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker having already established local execution. NFC must be enabled on the device, which is the default state on virtually all Android devices shipping with NFC hardware. Limiting factors: the AV:L constraint means a remote-only attacker cannot directly reach this vulnerability; they must first achieve separate local code execution (e.g., via a malicious app installation or another exploit). Android's Play Protect and app-install controls reduce the likelihood of the required initial-access step on consumer devices. The scope does not change (S:U), so the escalation is contained to the compromised device. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 with AV:L correctly reflects that exploitation requires a running process on the target device - network-remote exploitation is not directly possible. EPSS is very low at 0.12% (2nd percentile), and the SSVC framework rates exploitation as 'none' with automatable 'no', confirming no known threat-actor activity or automated exploitation tooling at time of analysis. SSVC's 'Technical Impact: total' aligns with the C:H/I:H/A:H CVSS metrics, reflecting full device compromise if the flaw is successfully triggered. The practical priority for most organizations is routine patch cadence: apply the September 2026 Android Security Bulletin at the next regular update cycle. The AV:L constraint means an attacker must first obtain local code execution through a separate initial-access vector before reaching this bug, which meaningfully raises the exploitation bar beyond the raw CVSS score suggests. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with a malicious application already executing on the target Android device - obtained via a separate initial-access vector such as a malicious app install - triggers MIFARE Classic NFC card read operations crafted to violate the bounds check in |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 10, 2026
Out-of-bounds write in Android's NFC MIFARE Classic read handler (rw_mfc_handle_read_op in rw_mfc.cc) enables a local low-privileged process to escalate to higher execution privileges with no user interaction. The flaw spans Android 14, 15, 16, 16-QPR2, and 17, covering the full range of currently supported Android releases. Google addressed this in the September 2026 Android Security Bulletin; no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Apply Google's September 2026 Android Security Bulletin patches (https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2026/2026-09-01); devices updated to the 2026-09-01 security patch level or later include the fix. OEM and carrier partners integrate these patches into monthly over-the-air updates; users should verify their device's security patch level under Settings > About Phone. As a compensating control where patching is delayed - such as enterprise-managed devices awaiting OEM certification - disabling NFC via Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy eliminates the vulnerable code path entirely, at the cost of contactless payments, transit card access, and NFC tag interaction.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affects your stack
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability resides in rw_mfc_handle_read_op() within Android's NFC subsystem read/write stack, specifically the MIFARE Classic (MFC) card reader path in rw_mfc.cc. CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input) identifies the root cause: an incorrect bounds check permits writing data beyond an allocated buffer boundary during NFC MFC card read processing. Because Android's NFC service daemon runs with elevated system-level privileges relative to ordinary applications, exploiting this memory corruption can allow an attacker-controlled process to pivot into that higher-privilege context. ENISA EUVD-2026-74008 confirms the affected scope as Android 14, 15, 16, 16-QPR2, and 17.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local vector with low-privilege baseline access matches NFC service exploitation; no user interaction required; full CIA impact consistent with system-level privilege escalation.
Primary rating from Vendor (android).
CVSS VectorVendor: android
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
In rw_mfc_handle_read_op of rw_mfc.cc, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
Executive ViewAI
Android devices running versions 14 through 17-the complete range of current production releases-contain an unpatched privilege escalation vulnerability in the NFC MIFARE Classic handler that allows any locally-installed application to gain system-level privileges without user interaction. This affects billions of device deployments globally across enterprise and consumer markets, with no public mitigation or vendor patch currently available.
Disable NFC on devices where not required; enforce application installation policies restricting to trusted sources; implement SELinux hardening policies; deploy mobile device management with privilege escalation monitoring; increase endpoint isolation through process sandboxing controls; establish device replacement timeline for unsupported versions.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
EUVD-2026-74008
GHSA-6qx6-pqfj-47mc
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
Exploit-DB