CVE-2025-48560
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a confused deputy vulnerability in Android's Wear OS where a malicious app can monitor motion events without user interaction. This allows local information disclosure about device movement and user activity. Only Wear OS devices with vulnerable AndroidManifest.xml configurations are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android Wear OS
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Malicious app continuously monitors all motion sensor data, potentially revealing sensitive user activity patterns, location context, and behavioral biometrics without any user indication.
Likely Case
Malicious app periodically collects motion data to infer user activities, daily routines, or device usage patterns for profiling or targeted attacks.
If Mitigated
With proper app permission controls and security updates, the app would be blocked from accessing motion events it shouldn't have permission to monitor.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires developing and distributing a malicious app that takes advantage of the confused deputy condition. No user interaction needed once app is installed.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version included in September 2025 Wear OS security update
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/wear/2025-09-01
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for Wear OS system updates in device settings. 2. Apply the September 2025 security update. 3. Verify the update completed successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict app permissions
allReview and restrict motion sensor permissions for all installed apps, especially those that don't legitimately need motion data.
Uninstall suspicious apps
allRemove any apps that request unnecessary motion sensor permissions or that you don't recognize.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict app installation policies - only install apps from trusted sources
- Regularly audit installed apps and their permission usage, removing any with suspicious permission patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Wear OS version in Settings > System > About > Android version. Compare against September 2025 security bulletin.Check Version:
No command needed - check through device settings interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the security patch level shows September 2025 or later in Settings > System > About > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual frequency of motion sensor access by apps
- Apps accessing motion sensors without corresponding user activity
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local information disclosure vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Not applicable for typical SIEM monitoring as this occurs locally on the device