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Researcher publishes Android SMS crash PoC after October patch
BleepingComputer reports a researcher released a proof-of-concept for CVE-2026-58882, a zero-click SMS denial-of-service Google says it patched in October 2026 updates.
A security researcher has published a proof-of-concept for a recently patched Android flaw that can crash a phone's cellular process after a specially crafted text message, BleepingComputer reported Saturday1.
The issue is tracked as CVE-2026-58882 and nicknamed SMS of Death by researcher Mark Blah, according to the report1. BleepingComputer said the denial-of-service requires no tap from the target and can interrupt calls, including emergency calls, because Android handles the message before it appears in the SMS inbox1.
Blah attributed the bug to improper validation of a header-length value in Android's WapPushOverSms.decodeWapPdu function, the outlet said1. The report said a malformed WAP Push data SMS can cause a NegativeArraySizeException that crashes the com.android.phone process, which manages cellular functions1.
Google patched the vulnerability in its October 2026 Android security updates for Android 14 through 17, BleepingComputer said, citing a change titled "Fix remote DoS in decodeWapPdu"1. The outlet said the flaw is not listed in Google's October security bulletin, and that Blah reported Android 12 and 13 devices remain unpatched1.
Blah's testing, as described by BleepingComputer, found that sending many malicious messages could leave devices in reboot loops; on one Android 12 phone, recovery mode returned about every 90 seconds until a factory reset1. The report said a GitHub contributor described removing stored messages with Android Debug Bridge, which requires a computer and extra steps1.
BleepingComputer said Blah published a technical write-up and a GitHub proof-of-concept that can send the messages from another Android device1. The outlet said the patch catches exceptions and deletes malicious messages from the SMS database to stop repeated crashes, and that update availability still depends on manufacturers and carriers1.
WhatsNewPaper has not independently verified the PoC or Google's bulletin listing. Google's on-record comment was not included in the BleepingComputer report1.
