Permission Denial - requires android.permission.CALL_PHONE which is granted

Question

I am initiating call using Notification's action:

Intent callIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_CALL, Uri.parse("tel:+48123456"));
PendingIntent pCallIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(context, 0, callIntent, 0);

Notification notification = new Notification.Builder(context)
        .addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_menu_call, "Call", pCallIntent)
        .build();

notificationManager.notify(0, notification);

After triggering Call button I get following SecurityException:

05-06 20:00:09.275    3426-6293/system_process W/ActivityManager﹕ Unable to send startActivity intent
    java.lang.SecurityException: Permission Denial: starting Intent { act=android.intent.action.CALL dat=tel:xxxxxxxxxxxx flg=0x10000000 cmp=com.android.phone/.OutgoingCallBroadcaster bnds=[128,231][423,327] } from null (pid=-1, uid=10142) requires android.permission.CALL_PHONE
            at com.android.server.am.ActivityStackSupervisor.startActivityLocked(ActivityStackSupervisor.java:1191)
            at com.android.server.am.ActivityStackSupervisor.startActivityMayWait(ActivityStackSupervisor.java:746)
            at com.android.server.am.ActivityManagerService.startActivityInPackage(ActivityManagerService.java:3391)
            at com.android.server.am.PendingIntentRecord.sendInner(PendingIntentRecord.java:252)
            at com.android.server.am.ActivityManagerService.startActivityIntentSender(ActivityManagerService.java:3272)
            at android.app.ActivityManagerNative.onTransact(ActivityManagerNative.java:237)
            at com.android.server.am.ActivityManagerService.onTransact(ActivityManagerService.java:2146)
            at android.os.Binder.execTransact(Binder.java:404)
            at dalvik.system.NativeStart.run(Native Method)

I have set proper permissions in AndroidManifest:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />

What should I do to fix it ?

Answer 1

A PendingIntent is supposed to include the "security context" in which it was created, so I am a bit surprised that this isn't working, though I have certainly never tried to call a phone number from a Notification.

Your likely options are:

• Switch to DIAL_PHONE, as that does not need a permission.

• Have your PendingIntent route to a BroadcastReceiver of yours, which turns around and calls the phone number. Make sure that this is a non-exported BroadcastReceiver (i.e., no <intent-filter>), so other apps do not send you the broadcast, causing you to call the number at possibly inopportune moments.