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Mallory
High

Android Kernel mem_protect.c logic error leading to local EoP

IdentifiersCVE-2026-0038CWE-670

CVE-2026-0038 is an Android kernel vulnerability in multiple functions in mem_protect.c. A logic error in the implementation can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution, resulting in local elevation of privilege. The published CVSS v3.1 vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating a local, low-complexity attack requiring no privileges and no user interaction, with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

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For your environment

Are you exposed to this one?

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in a privileged kernel/hypervisor context, enabling local elevation of privilege and full compromise of the device’s security boundaries (high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability per CVSS).

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Ensure devices are updated to Android security patch level 2026-03-05 or later. Where immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting execution of untrusted local code/apps (since the attack is local and requires code execution on the device), and enforce strong app vetting/allowlisting on managed fleets.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Android security updates that include the March 2026 kernel fixes (Android security patch level 2026-03-05 or later). For source-based consumers, incorporate the upstream AOSP kernel/common fixes referenced in the CVE record (multiple commits in android.googlesource.com/kernel/common).
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
GoogleAndroidoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity5

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.