CVE-2025-36901 is a recently disclosed vulnerability affecting the WLAN component of the Android kernel on Google Pixel devices running Android versions prior to the security update released on September 5, 2025. This vulnerability allows an attacker to perform an elevation of privilege (EoP) attack, meaning that a lower-privileged user or process could exploit this flaw to gain higher privileges on the affected device. The vulnerability resides in the Android kernel's WLAN subsystem, which handles wireless network communications. Exploiting this flaw could enable an attacker to execute code with kernel-level privileges, potentially bypassing security controls and gaining full control over the device. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerabilities makes this a serious concern, as it could be chained with other exploits to achieve persistent and stealthy compromise. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in early September 2025, indicating a relatively recent discovery and disclosure. The lack of a CVSS score suggests that detailed impact metrics have not yet been formally assigned, but the technical details confirm the severity of the issue due to its kernel-level impact and the critical role of WLAN in device connectivity.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-36901 could be significant, especially for enterprises and government bodies that rely heavily on Google Pixel devices for secure communications and mobile operations. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate or governmental data, manipulate device configurations, or deploy further malware with elevated privileges. This could lead to data breaches, espionage, disruption of business operations, and loss of trust in mobile device security. The WLAN component's compromise could also affect network integrity, potentially allowing attackers to intercept or manipulate wireless communications. Given the increasing use of mobile devices in remote work and critical infrastructure management across Europe, this vulnerability could be leveraged to target high-value assets. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but organizations should remain vigilant and proactive in patching.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Google Pixel devices to the latest Android security patch released on or after September 5, 2025, which addresses this vulnerability. Network administrators should enforce strict device management policies that include timely patch deployment and restrict the use of unpatched devices on corporate networks. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor device compliance and remotely enforce updates. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the potential lateral movement of an attacker who might exploit this vulnerability. Monitoring for unusual device behavior or privilege escalations on mobile endpoints can help detect exploitation attempts early. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, disabling WLAN interfaces or restricting wireless connectivity temporarily could reduce exposure. Finally, educating users about the risks of installing untrusted applications or connecting to insecure networks can help mitigate exploitation vectors that might leverage this vulnerability.