CVE-2025-48524 is a vulnerability identified in the Android operating system, specifically within the WifiPermissionsUtil.java component's isSystem method. The issue arises due to a missing permission check, which results in a permission bypass. This flaw allows an attacker with local access to the device to trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability affects multiple recent Android versions, namely versions 13, 14, 15, and 16. The root cause is a logic flaw in the permission validation mechanism that should restrict access to certain Wi-Fi related system functions. Exploiting this vulnerability can cause the affected device's Wi-Fi subsystem or related services to become unresponsive or crash, leading to a loss of network connectivity and potentially impacting device stability. Since the attack does not require user interaction and can be executed locally, it poses a risk especially in scenarios where an attacker has physical or local access to the device, such as in shared environments or through malicious applications already installed on the device. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on vendor updates once available. The absence of a CVSS score suggests that the vulnerability is still under evaluation or newly published.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, particularly for enterprises and public sector entities relying heavily on Android devices for communication and operational tasks. A denial of service on Android devices can disrupt critical business communications, access to enterprise applications, and connectivity to corporate networks. This could lead to operational downtime, reduced productivity, and potential loss of trust in mobile device security. In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government, where secure and reliable mobile connectivity is essential, this vulnerability could be exploited to cause targeted disruptions. Additionally, organizations with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk if employees' devices are compromised locally. Although the vulnerability does not allow privilege escalation or remote exploitation, the local nature of the attack vector means that insider threats or attackers with physical access could leverage this flaw to degrade device functionality. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation in controlled environments.

To mitigate CVE-2025-48524, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Monitor for official security advisories and patches from Google and device manufacturers and prioritize timely deployment of updates to affected Android versions (13 through 16). 2) Implement strict device access controls to limit local access to authorized personnel only, reducing the risk of local exploitation. 3) Enforce application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary applications that could exploit local vulnerabilities. 4) Utilize Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor device health and detect abnormal Wi-Fi subsystem behavior or frequent crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Educate users on the risks of physical device access and encourage secure device handling practices. 6) For high-security environments, consider network segmentation and use of VPNs to reduce the impact of device connectivity loss. 7) Engage with vendors to obtain patches or workarounds and test updates in controlled environments before wide deployment. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and proactive patch management tailored to the local exploitation vector of this vulnerability.