CVE-2025-48640: Android Passkey Permission Bypass Privilege Escalation

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in multiple Android code paths where passkey entry pairing approval logic fails to enforce required permission checks (CWE-862: Missing Authorization). An adjacent attacker with low privileges (PR:L) can craft requests to approve third-party passkey pairings remotely over a proximal network without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The attack succeeds because the authorization decision is not properly gated, allowing the attacker to escalate their privilege level within the affected Android system.

Business impact

Organizations deploying Android devices face unauthorized access to sensitive credentials and device functionality. Corporate users may experience credential compromise affecting email, VPN, financial systems, and internal applications that rely on passkey authentication. The silent nature of the exploitation (no user notification) means breaches may persist undetected. Affected enterprises should assume passkey-protected accounts may be compromised if devices remained unpatched during the vulnerability window.

Affected systems

Google Android systems are vulnerable. The exact affected Android versions, device models, and configuration states are not specified in the available advisory data; organizations should verify the complete affected version list against Google's official security bulletin.

Exploitability

Exploitability is moderate-to-high in enterprise environments. An attacker must be on the same local network or adjacent network segment (AV:A), hold at least a low user account, and target a device using passkey authentication. The attack requires no user interaction and low attack complexity. However, the attacker must have network proximity to the target, which limits mass remote exploitation. Targeted attacks against specific users on corporate networks are feasible.

Remediation

Apply security patches released by Google for this vulnerability. Verify the specific patch version numbers and affected Android releases against Google's official Android Security & Privacy Year in Review or Security Bulletin. Organizations should prioritize patching devices that use passkey-based authentication systems.

Patch guidance

Check Google's official Android security advisories for the specific CVE-2025-48640 patch details. Patches should be applied promptly to all vulnerable Android versions in your fleet. Given the HIGH CVSS score and missing user interaction requirement, this should be treated as a priority security update. Organizations using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions should verify patch compatibility and staged rollout to critical device populations before enterprise-wide deployment.

Detection guidance

Monitor Android devices for: (1) unexpected passkey pairing events, particularly those not initiated by the device user; (2) audit logs showing passkey approval operations by low-privileged accounts; (3) authentication tokens or credentials being used from unexpected sources or at unusual times. Implement logging of all passkey management operations and establish baselines for normal authentication patterns. Network-based detection of adjacent-network passkey protocol manipulation is difficult; focus on device-level telemetry and behavioral anomalies.

Why prioritize this

HIGH severity (CVSS 8.0) with complete impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The absence of user interaction and the silent nature of exploitation make this a serious risk for enterprise environments. While network proximity is required, attackers on the same network segment (common in Wi-Fi and guest networks) can escalate privileges without alerting the device owner. Organizations should prioritize patching over many other vulnerabilities due to the ease of exploitation once network access is established.

Risk score, explained

CVSS 3.1 score of 8.0 (HIGH) reflects: Attack Vector (Adjacent) – limits scope but remains feasible in corporate LANs; Attack Complexity (Low) – straightforward exploitation; Privileges Required (Low) – attackers need basic user access; User Interaction (None) – automatic exploitation without device owner action; and Scope (Unchanged) with complete impact to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. The score appropriately captures a serious local privilege escalation that could lead to credential theft and unauthorized system access.

Frequently asked questions