CVE-2025-48551
📋 TL;DR
This Android vulnerability allows malicious apps to leak images across user isolation boundaries via a confused deputy attack. It requires user interaction for exploitation and affects Android devices with vulnerable versions. Local attackers can access images from other users without additional 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
Sensitive images from other user profiles (including work profiles) could be accessed by a malicious app, potentially exposing personal photos, documents, or screenshots.
Likely Case
Limited image data leakage between user profiles, potentially exposing non-sensitive images or metadata.
If Mitigated
With proper app sandboxing and user isolation controls, impact is limited to low-risk information disclosure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction and malicious app installation. Exploit involves confused deputy pattern in IntentResolver module.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Patch Level 2025-09-01 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. Install September 2025 security patch or later. 3. No device restart required for this specific patch.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict app installations
allOnly install apps from trusted sources like Google Play Store and avoid sideloading unknown apps.
Disable unnecessary user profiles
allRemove or disable guest profiles and secondary user accounts if not needed.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict app vetting policies and only allow installation of trusted applications
- Educate users about risks of installing unknown apps and granting unnecessary permissions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version and security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android version. If patch level is before September 2025, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level shows 'September 1, 2025' or later in Settings > About phone > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual IntentResolver activity, cross-profile image access attempts, permission boundary violations
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Look for Android security events related to permission boundary violations or cross-profile access attempts in device management logs.