CVE-2025-48561
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a side-channel information disclosure vulnerability in Android that allows local attackers to access screen-displayed data without user interaction or elevated privileges. It affects Android devices running vulnerable versions, potentially exposing sensitive information like passwords or private messages. The vulnerability leverages timing or cache-based side channels to infer screen content.
💻 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
An attacker with physical access or malicious app could extract sensitive information displayed on screen, including passwords, authentication tokens, private messages, or financial data.
Likely Case
Malicious apps could harvest limited screen information through side-channel analysis, potentially capturing fragments of sensitive data over time.
If Mitigated
With proper app sandboxing and security updates, the risk is reduced to minimal information leakage with limited practical impact.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires understanding of side-channel attacks and Android internals. No user interaction needed but requires local access or malicious app.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android September 2025 security patch or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-09-01
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Install September 2025 Android security patch. 3. Verify patch installation in Settings > About phone > Android version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict app permissions
allLimit app permissions to reduce attack surface for malicious apps
Use secure lock screen
allPrevent physical access to device with strong authentication
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to devices and implement device management policies
- Monitor for suspicious app behavior and limit app installations to trusted sources only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android 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 Android security patch level shows September 2025 or later in Settings > About phone > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual app behavior accessing display/screen APIs
- Multiple rapid screen content queries
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Not applicable for this local side-channel vulnerability