CVE-2025-48536 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13, 14, 15, and 16. The flaw exists in the grantAllowlistedPackagePermissions method within the SettingsSliceProvider.java component. This method is responsible for granting specific permissions to allowlisted packages. Due to a confused deputy problem, a third-party application without elevated privileges can manipulate secure system settings by abusing this method. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have any additional execution privileges beyond those of the app itself, nor does it require any user interaction, which increases the risk of silent exploitation. The root cause is improper permission validation or delegation, allowing an unprivileged app to perform actions normally restricted to system or privileged apps. Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate their privileges locally, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in device configuration, security settings, or other sensitive parameters. This could compromise device integrity and confidentiality, enabling further attacks or persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android versions currently in use, increasing the scope of impacted devices. The absence of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on the nature of the flaw, its impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and the ease of exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a significant risk, especially those with employees or operations relying heavily on Android devices running versions 13 to 16. Successful exploitation could allow malicious apps to silently modify secure settings, potentially disabling security controls, altering device configurations, or enabling further malicious activities such as data exfiltration or persistence. This undermines device integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive corporate data or enabling lateral movement within enterprise networks. The lack of required user interaction makes it easier for attackers to exploit this vulnerability stealthily. Organizations in sectors with high mobile device usage, such as finance, healthcare, and government, are particularly at risk. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value individuals or entities within Europe, increasing the strategic impact. The broad market penetration of Android devices across Europe means the potential attack surface is large, necessitating urgent attention to mitigation.

Organizations should prioritize patching affected Android devices as soon as Google releases security updates addressing CVE-2025-48536. Until patches are available, restrict installation of third-party applications by enforcing strict app store policies and using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor for suspicious behavior. Employ application whitelisting to limit which apps can run on corporate devices. Regularly audit device configurations and secure settings to detect unauthorized changes. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from untrusted sources. Implement runtime protection tools that can detect anomalous permission escalations or unauthorized modifications to system settings. For high-security environments, consider restricting the use of affected Android versions or isolating devices with these versions from sensitive networks. Collaborate with vendors and security teams to monitor for emerging exploits and update incident response plans accordingly.