CVE-2025-48566
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an Android vulnerability where improper input validation allows bypassing user profile boundaries via forwarded intents. This enables local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. Affects Android devices running vulnerable versions.
💻 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 local access could escalate privileges to gain unauthorized access to other user profiles, potentially accessing sensitive data or performing actions in other user contexts.
Likely Case
Malicious apps could escape their sandbox to access data from other user profiles on the same device, compromising multi-user separation.
If Mitigated
With proper patching, the vulnerability is eliminated; without patching, strong app isolation and minimal permissions reduce exposure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious app to be installed; no user interaction needed once installed. Complexity is medium due to need for crafting specific intents.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Android Security Bulletin December 2025 for patched versions.
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-12-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Apply the latest security patch from December 2025 or later. 3. Reboot the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Multiple User Profiles
androidRemove or disable additional user profiles to eliminate the attack surface.
Navigate to Settings > System > Multiple users and disable or remove extra profiles.
Restrict App Installations
androidOnly install apps from trusted sources like Google Play Store and avoid sideloading.
Enable 'Install unknown apps' restriction in Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Install unknown apps.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate vulnerable devices on network segments and monitor for suspicious app behavior.
- Implement mobile device management (MDM) policies to restrict app installations and enforce security baselines.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version and security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android version. If patch level is before December 2025, device may be vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level is December 2025 or later in Settings > About phone > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Look for unusual intent forwarding between user profiles in Android system logs (logcat).
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable; this is a local exploit with no network indicators.
SIEM Query:
Not applicable for typical SIEM; monitor device logs for intent-based privilege escalation attempts.🔗 References
- https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/0f3e248787d88154c8592f6e055b6b3586f4877d
- https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/28579dff4305f764302d85f95509671eafbf62ac
- https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/modules/IntentResolver/+/4e6cf5285d0b1725fb9141e810050cfdb3fb42fd
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-12-01
