# CVE-2026-49906: Android Automotive OS permission bypass in ClusterHomeSample

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-49906-an-unprivileged-application-can-bypass-the-android-car-permission  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-02. Updated: 2026-11-02  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-49906 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-02

Android Automotive OS contains a permission bypass vulnerability in the ClusterHomeSample component that controls the safety-critical instrument cluster display in vehicles. An unprivileged application can exploit this to display arbitrary content on the car's dashboard, potentially showing misleading navigation or distracting information that could affect driver safety.

Technologies: [Google Android Automotive OS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/android-automotive-os). Vendors: [Google](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/google).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-49906 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-49906 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-49906?** Informational severity, published 2 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Google Android Automotive OS 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-49906?** Yes: fixed in Android 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17 with security patch level 2026-11-01 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-49906 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-49906?** Check whether you run Google Android Automotive OS at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in Android 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17 with security patch level 2026-11-01 or later

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an elevation of privilege (EOP) flaw in ClusterHomeSample where an unprivileged app registers an activity with the `android.car.cluster.NAVIGATION` category and requests navigation focus. The privileged ClusterHomeSample component, acting as a confused deputy, resolves and launches this third-party activity on the instrument cluster display without enforcing the required `android.car.permission.CAR_DISPLAY_IN_CLUSTER` permission check. Network access is not required; a local attacker with the ability to install applications can exploit this.

## Affected products

- Google Android Automotive OS 14, 15, 16, 16-qpr2, 17

## References

- [https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/aaos/2026/2026-11-01](https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/aaos/2026/2026-11-01)

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