CVE-2025-22419 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, and 15. The vulnerability arises from multiple locations within the Android OS where an attacker can leverage a tapjacking or overlay attack to mislead the user into enabling malicious phone call forwarding. Tapjacking involves placing a transparent or deceptive overlay on top of legitimate UI elements, tricking the user into performing unintended actions. In this case, the user is deceived into enabling call forwarding to a number controlled by the attacker. Exploitation requires local user execution privileges and user interaction, meaning the attacker must convince the user to tap on the malicious overlay. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as it allows an attacker to intercept or redirect phone calls, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive communications and further attacks. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.3 (High), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction needed, unchanged scope, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, and no patches are currently linked, suggesting that mitigation and patching efforts should be prioritized. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1021, which relates to improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a user interface, consistent with tapjacking techniques.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially for enterprises and government agencies relying on Android devices for secure communications. The ability to silently forward calls to attacker-controlled numbers can lead to interception of sensitive conversations, social engineering, and further compromise of corporate or governmental secrets. The attack requires user interaction, which may be facilitated through phishing or social engineering campaigns targeting employees. The impact extends to privacy violations under GDPR, as unauthorized call forwarding could expose personal data and communications. Additionally, organizations in sectors such as finance, defense, and critical infrastructure may face operational disruptions and reputational damage if attackers exploit this vulnerability to intercept or manipulate voice communications. The lack of patches increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations. Given the widespread use of Android devices across Europe, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of users and organizations, amplifying the potential impact.

1. Educate users about the risks of tapjacking and the importance of scrutinizing permission requests and UI prompts, especially those related to call forwarding or telephony settings. 2. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation of untrusted applications and enforce policies that limit overlay permissions or monitor apps requesting such permissions. 3. Disable or restrict call forwarding features where not necessary, especially on corporate devices, to reduce the attack surface. 4. Monitor telephony logs and network traffic for unusual call forwarding configurations or patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Encourage users to keep their devices updated and apply security patches promptly once Google releases fixes for this vulnerability. 6. Implement application whitelisting and use security solutions capable of detecting overlay or tapjacking behaviors. 7. For high-risk environments, consider using hardened Android builds or security-hardened telephony applications that mitigate overlay attacks. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user education, device management policies, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of this specific vulnerability.