CVE-2025-32320 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in the System UI component of Google Android version 16. The vulnerability arises from a confused deputy problem, where the System UI improperly handles access control, allowing a local attacker to view images belonging to other users on the same device. This flaw enables an attacker with local access to escalate their privileges without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability exploits the System UI's failure to correctly enforce user boundaries, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive user data such as images. Since the exploit does not require user interaction, it can be triggered silently by a malicious application or process already running on the device. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be leveraged to compromise user privacy and potentially facilitate further attacks by gaining elevated privileges on the device. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and may not yet have been fully assessed for impact severity.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user data on Android devices, especially those running version 16. Organizations that issue Android devices to employees or rely on Android-based mobile platforms for business operations could face unauthorized data disclosure if an attacker gains local access to devices. The ability to escalate privileges without user interaction increases the risk of stealthy attacks, potentially leading to broader compromise of corporate mobile environments. This could result in exposure of sensitive corporate information stored in user images or other personal data, undermining privacy compliance obligations such as GDPR. Additionally, privilege escalation could enable attackers to install persistent malware or bypass security controls, further threatening organizational security. The vulnerability's local nature limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in scenarios involving lost, stolen, or physically accessed devices, or where malicious apps are installed.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating all Android devices to patched versions as soon as Google releases a security update addressing CVE-2025-32320. Until patches are available, organizations should enforce strict device usage policies, including restricting installation of untrusted applications and employing mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor and control app permissions. Implementing strong device encryption and screen lock mechanisms will reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. Organizations should also conduct regular audits of installed applications to detect potentially malicious software that could exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, educating users about the risks of sideloading apps and physical device security can help minimize exposure. For high-security environments, consider isolating sensitive data from user-accessible storage or employing containerization technologies to limit the impact of privilege escalation.