CVE-2025-48531 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13 through 16. The flaw exists in the getCallingPackageName function within the CredentialStorage component, where a logic error leads to a permission bypass. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to escalate privileges without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. Specifically, the logic error in permission checks enables an attacker with limited privileges to gain higher-level access, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-693, which relates to protection mechanism failures due to logic errors. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting a high impact with local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat, especially on devices running the affected Android versions. Since Android is widely used across mobile devices, this vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious applications or local attackers to gain unauthorized access or control over device functions and sensitive data.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-48531 can be substantial, particularly for enterprises relying on Android devices for business operations, secure communications, or mobile workforce management. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive corporate data, or install persistent malware with elevated privileges. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, disruption of business processes, and compromise of user privacy. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations may face regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The lack of required user interaction increases the risk of silent exploitation, making detection and prevention more challenging. Additionally, sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe that use Android devices for critical functions may be particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

To mitigate CVE-2025-48531, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Promptly apply official security patches from Google or device manufacturers as they become available, even if no patches are currently released, monitoring vendor advisories closely. 2) Implement strict application control policies to limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps, reducing the attack surface for local privilege escalation attempts. 3) Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security configurations, monitor device integrity, and detect anomalous privilege escalations. 4) Restrict physical and local access to Android devices, as exploitation requires local access. 5) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unknown sources and encourage use of official app stores. 6) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring privilege escalation behaviors on mobile devices. 7) For highly sensitive environments, consider additional hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary services and enforcing least privilege principles on device configurations. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring privilege changes, and enforcing strict app policies.