CVE-2025-48524
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers to bypass permission checks in Android's WiFi system service, potentially causing denial of service without requiring user interaction. It affects Android devices with vulnerable WiFi permission implementations. Attackers need local access to the device but no special privileges.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Persistent denial of WiFi service on affected devices, requiring factory reset to restore functionality.
Likely Case
Temporary WiFi service disruption until device reboot, potentially affecting connectivity and device functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper Android security updates applied and standard device security controls enabled.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access to device. No user interaction needed but attacker needs ability to execute code on device.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android security patch level September 2025 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-09-01
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Apply September 2025 security patch or later. 3. Verify patch installation in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local app installations
allPrevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability
Enable 'Install unknown apps' restriction in Android security settings
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application allowlisting to prevent untrusted app execution
- Enable Android Verified Boot and device encryption to protect against local attacks
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level. If before September 2025, device may be vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android security patch level shows September 2025 or later in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected WiFi service crashes or permission denial errors in system logs
- Multiple failed permission checks for WiFi-related system calls
Network Indicators:
- Sudden WiFi disconnections without user action
- WiFi interface becoming unresponsive
SIEM Query:
source="android_system_logs" AND ("WifiPermissionsUtil" OR "isSystem") AND ("permission denied" OR "crash")