CVE-2025-48528 is a recently disclosed vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 15 and 16. The flaw involves a tapjacking or overlay attack vector that allows an attacker to overlay biometric authentication prompts in multiple locations within the Android operating system. This overlay can trick the system or user interface into accepting unauthorized biometric inputs or bypassing biometric verification mechanisms. Notably, the vulnerability enables local elevation of privilege without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, meaning an attacker with local access to the device can exploit this flaw silently and escalate their privileges. The attack leverages the ability to place deceptive UI elements over legitimate biometric prompts, effectively hijacking the authentication process. Since no user interaction is needed, the exploit can be automated or triggered by malicious apps or processes already present on the device. The absence of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and has not yet been fully assessed for severity. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no official patches or mitigation links have been provided by Google as of the publication date (September 4, 2025).

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those relying on Android devices for secure access to corporate resources, mobile banking, or sensitive communications. The ability to elevate privileges locally without user interaction means that malicious apps or insiders could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functions protected by biometric authentication. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, or compromise of enterprise mobile device management (MDM) controls. Since biometric authentication is widely used for securing mobile devices, the integrity and confidentiality of user credentials and corporate data are at risk. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in Android devices used within critical infrastructure sectors or government agencies in Europe. The lack of required user interaction increases the stealth and potential impact of the attack, making detection and prevention more challenging. Organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or those deploying Android devices in high-security environments should be particularly cautious.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include restricting installation of untrusted or third-party applications through enterprise app stores or MDM solutions, enforcing strict app permission policies, and monitoring for unusual local privilege escalations or overlay activity. Disabling or restricting biometric authentication temporarily on vulnerable Android versions 15 and 16 may be necessary until patches are available. Organizations should also educate users about the risks of installing unknown apps and encourage regular device updates. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting overlay attacks or suspicious UI manipulations can help identify exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and limiting local device access to trusted personnel reduce the attack surface. Finally, organizations should maintain close communication with Google and monitor for official patches or security advisories to apply updates promptly once available.