CVE-2025-22437 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android version 13. The flaw exists in the setMediaButtonReceiver functionality across multiple files, where a logic error allows an attacker to launch arbitrary activities from the background. This vulnerability enables local attackers with limited privileges to escalate their privileges without requiring additional execution rights or user interaction. The root cause relates to improper handling of media button receiver registration, categorized under CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure). Exploitation does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of stealthy privilege escalation. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and limited privileges needed. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to Android 13 devices, potentially allowing malicious apps or local attackers to gain elevated control over the device and sensitive data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can have serious implications, especially for enterprises relying on Android 13 devices for business operations, communications, and data access. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, access confidential corporate information, manipulate data integrity, or disrupt device availability. This is particularly concerning for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The lack of required user interaction means that attacks could be automated or triggered silently, increasing the risk of widespread compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks or to deploy further malware payloads, amplifying the threat landscape for European organizations.

Organizations should prioritize updating affected Android 13 devices as soon as patches become available from Google, even though no patch links are currently provided. In the interim, restricting installation of untrusted or third-party applications can reduce exposure to local privilege escalation attempts. Employing mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce application whitelisting and monitor for suspicious activity related to media button receiver usage is recommended. Security teams should also audit device configurations and permissions to limit unnecessary privileges granted to apps. Regularly reviewing device logs for anomalous activity involving media button events can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, educating users about the risks of installing unknown apps and maintaining strong endpoint security hygiene will further mitigate risk.