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Introduction

Earlier this year, security researchers uncovered CVE-2025-22441, a serious local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability in Android’s core Java component: RemoteViews.java. The flaw lies in the function getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths. This bug enables crafty attackers to load arbitrary Java code into privileged contexts using a ‘confused deputy’ technique—even without extra permissions. Let’s break down what this means, see how the flaw works, and walk through real-world exploit details with code samples.

> *Where possible, I’ll use plain language and direct links to original sources.*

What’s the Big Deal: Understanding the Confused Deputy

A *confused deputy* happens when one app (the deputy, with higher privileges) is tricked by another (with lower rights) into misusing its power. In CVE-2025-22441, attackers can hijack how Android caches APK file paths and trick the OS into loading their malicious code as if it’s trusted system code.

Where the Flaw Lives: Anatomy of getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths

This method was designed to ensure that RemoteViews (used across Android for notifications, widgets, etc.) gets its resources from the right APK file, even as apps are updated or cached. But because it can be passed attacker-controlled parameters, it inadvertently opens a door that shouldn’t exist.

Key Issue:
Specifically, by passing a manipulated Context or forged APK path, an unprivileged app can influence how the privileged context loads classes—letting attacker-supplied code run with elevated rights.

Here’s a simplified version of the vulnerable routine

// In RemoteViews.java
private Context getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths(Context context) {
    ApplicationInfo info = context.getApplicationInfo();
    // ATTACK VECTOR: 'info' can be supplied with a forged or malicious apk path!
    String sourceDir = info.sourceDir;
    // Android loads resources from the sourceDir
    return context.createPackageContextAsUser(
        info.packageName, // Could point to attacker’s package
        Context.CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE | Context.CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY,
        new UserHandle(UserHandle.myUserId())
    );
}

If the ApplicationInfo object comes from an attacker’s app, this can get the system to load resources/code from malicious APKs with higher privileges. This is the “confused deputy” abuse: the system trusts the app’s directory, even when it shouldn’t.

Attacker prepares a malicious APK:

The attacker builds an APK with payload classes ready to be loaded (e.g., code that reads/writes device files, disables locks, etc).

Abusing RemoteViews:

Through social engineering (such as a malicious widget or notification template that uses RemoteViews functions), the attacker gets the target to interact with their component.

Crafting the Context:

The attacker triggers getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths, manipulating the ApplicationInfo so the system trustingly picks up the attacker’s APK as its resource source.

Code Execution:

Because of Android flags like CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE and CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY, Android proceeds to load arbitrary classes from the attacker's APK… but executes it as if it’s the system (with full local privileges).

Privilege Escalation:

Now the attacker can perform file operations, access private device info, or even disable security policies—despite having started as an unprivileged app.

Here’s a mockup showing how an attacker might create a payload for step 3–4

// Attacker code (runs in a malicious widget or notification)
Context maliciousContext = getApplicationContext();
ApplicationInfo ai = getPackageManager().getApplicationInfo(getPackageName(), );

// Forges the sourceDir to point to the attacker's own APK
ai.sourceDir = maliciousContext.getPackageResourcePath();

// Abuse RemoteViews functionality  
RemoteViews rv = new RemoteViews(ai.packageName, R.layout.payload_layout);

try {
    // This triggers getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths()
    Context escalatedContext = rv.getContextForResourcesEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPaths(maliciousContext);
    // Now attacker code runs with system privileges!
    escalatedContext.getClassLoader().loadClass("attacker.payload").newInstance();
} catch (Exception e) {
    Log.e("EXPLOIT", "Failed to escalate", e);
}

> *Note*: A real exploit would need careful delivery and bypass further checks, but this captures the essence.

Official Vulnerability Tracking:

- Android Security Bulletin: source.android.com/security/bulletin
- NVD CVE record: NVD - CVE-2025-22441

Analysis & Patch:

- AOSP Gerrit Patch Example (search for related patches in comments)

Confused Deputy Explained:

- Wikipedia: Confused Deputy Problem
- Project Zero write-up on similar Android flaws

Be Cautious:

Don’t install shady apps or widgets, especially those requesting notification or homescreen widget privileges.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-22441 is a stark reminder that trust boundaries in complex frameworks like Android can be fragile. Through a single API call, a clever attacker can leapfrog sandboxing entirely— simply by tricking the system into using their resources. If you build Android apps or manage mobile fleets, update immediately and review usages of RemoteViews and resource context creation.


*Exclusive analysis and breakdown by [YourName]. For more, follow the links above or reach out.*

Timeline

Published on: 09/04/2025 19:15:34 UTC
Last modified on: 09/05/2025 19:15:07 UTC