---
id: "CVE-2026-28588"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-28588"]
title: "Android: ExternalStorageProvider logic error exposes protected files to local apps"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.4
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: [{"name": "Android", "fixed": ["security patch level 2026-11-05"], "affected": "14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17 before patch level 2026-11-05", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["android", "framework", "local-privilege-escalation", "runtime"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-11-02T20:17:41+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-02T20:35:26+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-02T20:37:27+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28588", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T20:35:26+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T20:37:27+00:00"}]
---

# Android: ExternalStorageProvider logic error exposes protected files to local apps

Google's November 2026 Android bulletin lists CVE-2026-28588 as a High-severity elevation-of-privilege flaw in the Framework (ExternalStorageProvider), fixed in patch level 2026-11-05. The bulletin gives no exploitation details and does not say it is exploited.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Android affected 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17 before patch level 2026-11-05 fixed security patch level 2026-11-05

## How to check

Settings > About phone > Android version > Android security update; exposed if the patch level is earlier than 2026-11-05 (adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch). Applies to Android 14, 15, 16, 16-QPR2 and 17.

## Fix

Update to Android security patch level 2026-11-05 or later (Framework fix, bug A-475232460)

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02T20:35:26+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28588
- 2026-11-02T20:37:27+00:00 analyst — Primary: Android Nov 2026 bulletin lists CVE-2026-28588 (A-475232460, EoP, High, AOSP 14-17). Bulletin does not describe the bug; NVD page unreadable. Only fix verified. No exploitation reported.

## Documents

- [advisory] Android Security Bulletin—November 2026 https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2026/2026-11-01
- [mentions] NVD CVE-2026-28588 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28588

## From the sources

In shouldBlockDirectoryFromTree of ExternalStorageProvider.java, there is a possible way to access protected data due to a logic error in the code. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

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