CVE-2025-48535 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13 through 16. The flaw exists in the method assertSafeToStartCustomActivity within the AppRestrictionsFragment.java component. It arises due to unsafe deserialization of parcel data, specifically a parcel mismatch that can be exploited to trigger a 'launch anywhere' vulnerability. This means an attacker with local access can manipulate parcel data to bypass intended restrictions and launch arbitrary activities within the Android system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data), indicating that improper handling of serialized objects leads to security issues. Notably, exploitation requires no user interaction and no additional execution privileges beyond local access, making it easier for an attacker who already has some foothold on the device to escalate privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and low privileges required. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be leveraged for local privilege escalation to gain higher system privileges, potentially enabling further malicious activities such as installing persistent malware, accessing sensitive data, or disabling security controls. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to employees and systems using affected Android versions (13 to 16). Since Android is widely used in mobile devices across Europe for both personal and enterprise purposes, the vulnerability could be exploited by attackers who gain local access to devices—through physical access, malicious apps, or other means—to escalate privileges and compromise device security. This could lead to unauthorized access to corporate data, interception of communications, or deployment of persistent malware within enterprise environments. The impact is particularly critical for sectors relying heavily on mobile device security, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. Additionally, the vulnerability could undermine compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR if exploited to access or leak personal data. The absence of user interaction in exploitation increases the threat level, as attacks can be automated or triggered silently. Organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or remote workforces using vulnerable Android versions are especially at risk. The potential for privilege escalation also raises concerns about lateral movement within corporate networks if compromised devices connect to internal resources.

Given the absence of official patches at the time of disclosure, European organizations should implement layered mitigations: 1) Enforce strict device management policies using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to restrict installation of untrusted applications and monitor device integrity. 2) Limit local access to devices by enforcing strong physical security controls and screen lock policies. 3) Educate users on risks of installing apps from untrusted sources and the importance of device security hygiene. 4) Monitor device behavior for unusual activity indicative of privilege escalation attempts, such as unexpected app launches or system modifications. 5) Where possible, restrict or disable features related to AppRestrictionsFragment or custom activity launching via configuration or security policies. 6) Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches once available by maintaining an inventory of affected devices and prioritizing updates. 7) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting suspicious local privilege escalation behaviors on Android devices. 8) For critical environments, consider temporarily restricting use of affected Android versions until patches are released.