CVE-2025-26429
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Android's AppOpsService allows local attackers to cause permanent denial of service through improper input validation in the collectOps function. It affects Android devices running vulnerable versions and requires no user interaction or special privileges for exploitation.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Permanent device bricking requiring factory reset or hardware replacement, with complete loss of functionality and data.
Likely Case
Device becomes unresponsive or crashes repeatedly, requiring reboot or factory reset to restore functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper patching; devices remain functional with normal security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and understanding of Android system internals, but no special privileges are needed.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: May 2025 Android Security Patch or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-05-01
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Install the May 2025 security patch or later. 3. Verify the patch is applied by checking the security patch level.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict app permissions
allLimit app permissions to reduce attack surface for malicious apps
Disable unnecessary system services
allReduce exposure by disabling unused system components
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict app vetting and only install from trusted sources like Google Play Store
- Use mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and monitor for suspicious behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Settings > About phone > Android security patch level. If date is before May 2025, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android security patch level shows May 2025 or later in Settings > About phone.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Repeated AppOpsService crashes in logcat
- System stability issues in device logs
- Unexpected process terminations related to system services
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for logcat entries containing 'AppOpsService' crashes or 'collectOps' failures on Android devices