Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain local code execution (install app or shell access)
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DeliveryCraft malformed inputs targeting iommu.c functions
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ExploitTrigger out-of-bounds kernel memory read/write
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ExecutionCorrupt kernel security structures
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ImpactEscalate process privileges to root
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires local code execution on the target Android device at a minimum of standard app-level (PR:L) process privileges - any installed app or shell user can attempt exploitation. No user interaction is needed, and no non-default kernel configuration appears required, as the vulnerability exists in core IOMMU functions. Exploitation is constrained to local access (AV:L): remote-only attackers cannot trigger this directly without first achieving local code execution via another vulnerability. SELinux policy in enforcing mode may reduce the attack surface by limiting which processes can invoke the affected IOMMU code paths, though this is not a confirmed mitigation for this specific flaw. |
| Impact | The CVSS 7.8 score with AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H accurately characterizes the real-world risk: a locally-executing app or shell process with ordinary user privileges can reliably trigger the flaw without any special system configuration or user interaction. Attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning exploitation does not require race conditions or unusual states. The C:H/I:H/A:H triad reflects full kernel compromise. No EPSS score was provided in the input data, and the CVE is not listed in CISA KEV, so widespread automated exploitation is not confirmed. However, local kernel privilege escalation vulnerabilities in Android are consistently valued by exploit developers for use in malware, spyware, and sandbox-escape chains - the low AC makes this particularly useful. Real-world risk is elevated for devices awaiting OEM patch deployment, as Android kernel patches from Google's bulletin typically lag on non-Pixel hardware. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A malicious Android application installed on a target device with standard user-level permissions submits specially crafted inputs to vulnerable IOMMU kernel functions, triggering an out-of-bounds memory write in kernel address space. The corrupted kernel memory is leveraged to overwrite a security-critical structure (such as credentials or a function pointer), escalating the process to root. No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) implies that once the vulnerable code path is understood, a reliable exploit is feasible. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026
Local privilege escalation in the Android kernel's IOMMU subsystem (iommu.c) allows any process with basic user-level execution to gain full kernel privileges through out-of-bounds memory read/write triggered by improper input validation across multiple functions. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms low attack complexity with no user interaction required, making this a reliable local privilege escalation primitive for post-compromise chains or malicious apps. Google patched this in the Android Security Bulletin for September 2026 with two upstream kernel commits; no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Apply the patches published in the Android Security Bulletin for September 1, 2026, available at https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2026/2026-09-01. Two upstream commits to the Android kernel common repository address the improper input validation: https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/common/+/6bc773e9c9f8ec6c5c431934462badbbb7d21767 and https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/common/+/ba7833622fc3581c388d0da922aaab529aec43b3. Device manufacturers and OEMs should integrate these commits into their kernel trees and issue OTA updates promptly. As a compensating control where kernel patching is delayed, restricting untrusted app sideloading and enforcing SELinux enforcing mode can limit the attack surface by constraining the privilege level from which exploitation can be attempted, though neither eliminates the underlying vulnerability.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability resides in iommu.c within the Android common kernel - the subsystem responsible for managing the Input-Output Memory Management Unit, which controls how I/O devices access physical memory by providing device-visible address translation and protection boundaries. CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) is the root cause: multiple functions within iommu.c fail to adequately validate caller-supplied inputs, permitting out-of-bounds memory reads and writes in kernel address space. Because the IOMMU layer operates at ring-0 privilege, successful memory corruption here grants full kernel control. The affected product is identified by EUVD as 'Android Android kernel', with patches applied to the Android kernel common repository, indicating this affects the upstream Android kernel tree distributed to device OEMs.
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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 confirmed by description; PR:L because basic app execution suffices; full C/I/A:H reflects kernel-level compromise from privilege escalation.
Primary rating from Vendor (android).
CVSS VectorVendor: android
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
In multiple functions of iommu.c, there is a possible out of bounds read/write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
Executive ViewAI
The Android kernel contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2026-58941) affecting all organizations with Android devices in use, including corporate-owned phones and personal devices used for work access. Once exploited by an installed application, the vulnerability grants complete kernel-level access, enabling attackers to bypass security controls, extract corporate credentials, and compromise business applications without user awareness. Google has released a firmware patch in the September 2026 Android Security Bulletin, making rapid deployment the critical mitigation.
Apply vendor patch from Android Security Bulletin September 2026.
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.
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EUVD-2026-74029
GHSA-p48m-h825-prj4
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB