Edit:
A security loophole recently found in Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL camera hardware could have enabled each individual handset to be uniquely identified and tracked by third-party apps.
The fault lies in the fact that the phone’s front camera module, manufactured by HTC, provides a serial number unique to each Pixel phone. This serial number could then be accessed by any installed apps to identify and track an individual handset.
Fortunately, a fix has already been written and accepted by the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
Edit: As some comments have argued, this problem is fixed via software. However, I'm covering the issue here as it has its origins in the camera hardware.
A report in 9to5Google yesterday points to a recent patch to the Pixel’s source code featuring the following change entitled, ‘Restrict access to the camera sensor’s serial number’.
The issue is noted as ‘Camera sensor's serial number, stored in system property
htc.camera.sensor.front_SN, appears to change between different
devices and could thus facilitate tracking.’
The accepted solution has been to hide the unique serial number from apps, thereby blocking any attempts at tracking by malicious applications.
It is hoped that this fix will find its way into the Android January security patch, expected in the next few days. The speed of Android’s Open Source development has ensured that only a tiny window of opportunity has existed for this problem, so Pixel users need not worry, and shows why the instant updates Google's phone receive is such a big selling point over Android rivals.
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