CVE-2025-48525 is a vulnerability in the Android operating system affecting versions 13 through 16. The issue lies in the DisassociationProcessor.java component, specifically in the disassociate function, where improper input validation allows an application to continue reading notifications even after disassociation from a companion device. Normally, companion devices are paired to enable secure notification sharing; however, due to this flaw, an app can bypass the intended disassociation logic and maintain access to notifications. This results in a local elevation of privilege without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), indicating that the root cause is failure to properly validate inputs leading to unauthorized access. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high severity, with metrics indicating local attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring low privileges, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature suggests that a malicious app installed on a device could exploit this to access sensitive notifications and potentially manipulate system behavior or data. This could compromise user privacy and device security, especially in environments where sensitive information is transmitted via notifications or companion devices are used for secure workflows.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, particularly in sectors relying heavily on Android devices for communication and operational tasks, such as finance, healthcare, and government. The ability for a local app to escalate privileges and access notifications without user consent can lead to leakage of confidential information, unauthorized data manipulation, and potential disruption of services. Since the vulnerability affects multiple recent Android versions, a large portion of enterprise and consumer devices are at risk. This could undermine trust in mobile device security and complicate compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR. Additionally, organizations using companion devices for secure workflows may find their security assumptions invalidated, exposing sensitive operational data. The lack of required user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks if malicious apps are introduced into the environment.

Organizations should prioritize applying official patches from Google as soon as they become available. Until patches are released, they should enforce strict app vetting policies, limiting installation of apps to trusted sources and employing mobile threat defense solutions to detect suspicious app behavior. Restricting permissions related to companion device interactions and notification access can reduce the attack surface. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools tailored for mobile devices can help identify anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. User education on the risks of installing untrusted apps remains important. For enterprise-managed devices, implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to control app installation and permissions is critical. Monitoring for unusual notification access patterns and conducting regular security audits of mobile environments will further reduce risk.