CVE-2025-48649: Android Local Privilege Escalation via Permission Bypass

Technical summary

This vulnerability exploits a permissions bypass vulnerability present in multiple locations within Google Android's permission enforcement logic. An unprivileged local process can manipulate or reset user-granted permissions, allowing escalation to higher privilege levels. The attack vector is local, requires existing user-level access, operates in an unchanged system context, and does not require user interaction. The underlying weakness is categorized under CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure), indicating a flaw in how the OS enforces its own permission controls rather than a simple misconfiguration.

Business impact

For enterprise organizations managing Android device fleets, this vulnerability creates a meaningful operational risk. A compromised application—whether through supply-chain compromise, trojanized update, or lateral movement—can silently reset user permissions and gain access to sensitive data and device capabilities without triggering permission prompts that users might notice. This undermines Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies that rely on the permission system as a control boundary and increases the window of exposure before detection.

Affected systems

Google Android is affected across multiple versions and configurations. The exact version scope requires verification against the official Android Security & Privacy Year in Review and vendor advisories, as the ground-truth data does not enumerate specific version numbers. Organizations should assume broad exposure across their Android estate and plan updates accordingly.

Exploitability

Exploitability is straightforward for a local attacker. Because the attack requires only existing user-level access (no privilege escalation prerequisite), no special execution privileges, and no user interaction, any application installed on the device or any process running under a standard user account can attempt exploitation. This makes the vulnerability attractive in multi-stage attack chains where an initial foothold (such as a trojanized app) sets the stage for deeper compromise.

Remediation

Patches from Google addressing this vulnerability should be applied to all affected Android devices as soon as they are released and verified. Organizations should prioritize deployment through their MDM solutions, using managed update policies to minimize the window of vulnerability. Until patches are available, compensating controls—such as restricting installation of untrusted applications, enforcing stricter app vetting policies, and monitoring for unusual permission resets—should be considered.

Patch guidance

Monitor Google's official security advisories and the Android Security & Privacy Year in Review for patch availability. Patches will likely be delivered through monthly security updates or emergency patches depending on the affected version branches. Verify patch deployment on all managed Android devices within 30 days of availability. For unmanaged devices, encourage users to install updates immediately when prompted. Test patches in a limited pilot environment before full rollout to ensure compatibility with enterprise applications.

Detection guidance

Detection is challenging because the vulnerability operates at the permission level without obvious user-visible markers. Security teams should monitor for: (1) unexpected permission state changes on managed devices, particularly resets of previously restricted permissions; (2) application behavior inconsistent with granted permissions (e.g., location access without user expectation); (3) audit logs from MDM systems indicating permission configuration drift. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools with Android support should track system calls related to permission enforcement and permission-related system property modifications.

Why prioritize this

With a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH) and no user interaction required, this vulnerability merits immediate prioritization. The local attack vector and permission bypass nature mean that any application with basic device access becomes a potential attack platform. The absence of KEV designation does not diminish urgency; active exploitation in the wild may be underreported or still emerging. Organizations should treat this as a tier-1 patching priority for Android environments.

Risk score, explained

The 7.8 HIGH score reflects: (1) local but unrestricted attack surface (any process with user privileges); (2) complete compromise of CIA triad within the affected user context (confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts marked as HIGH); (3) no user interaction barrier; (4) unchanged scope (no container or virtualization bypass required). The score appropriately captures the severity of a permission bypass that undermines the core security model of Android without requiring additional privileges or user awareness.

Frequently asked questions