CVE-2025-48540 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 13 through 16. The vulnerability arises from a logic error in the processTransactInternal function within the RpcState.cpp source file. Specifically, this flaw can cause a local out-of-memory write condition, which may corrupt memory in a way that allows an attacker to escalate privileges on the affected device. Notably, exploitation does not require any additional execution privileges or user interaction, meaning that an unprivileged local attacker or malicious app could leverage this vulnerability to gain higher privileges on the device. The vulnerability is rooted in the Android RPC (Remote Procedure Call) mechanism, which is critical for inter-process communication. 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 published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (September 4, 2025). Given the affected Android versions (13 to 16), this vulnerability impacts a broad range of modern Android devices, including many flagship smartphones and tablets. The flaw's local nature means that attackers must have some level of access to the device, such as through a malicious app installation or physical access, but no user interaction is required once the attacker has local code execution capabilities. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in scenarios where devices are shared, or where attackers can trick users into installing malicious apps that exploit this flaw silently to gain elevated privileges and potentially bypass security controls or access sensitive data.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-48540 could be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Android devices for business operations, mobile workforce, or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain elevated privileges on compromised devices, potentially allowing them to bypass security controls, access confidential corporate data, install persistent malware, or move laterally within enterprise networks. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of business processes. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of stealthy exploitation, making detection and prevention more challenging. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of the data handled and the regulatory requirements for data protection under GDPR and other European regulations. Additionally, the widespread use of Android devices across Europe means that the attack surface is large, and the potential for targeted attacks against high-value individuals or executives using vulnerable devices is elevated. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the vulnerability’s presence in recent Android versions means that many devices remain exposed until patches are released and deployed.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-48540, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic advice: 1) Inventory and identify all Android devices running versions 13 through 16 within the organization to understand exposure. 2) Monitor official Google Android security bulletins and vendor-specific updates closely for the release of patches addressing this vulnerability, and prioritize rapid deployment of these patches once available. 3) Implement strict application control policies to prevent installation of untrusted or potentially malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability locally. 4) Employ Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solutions that can detect suspicious behaviors indicative of privilege escalation attempts on Android devices. 5) Enforce least privilege principles on mobile devices, restricting app permissions and disabling unnecessary services that could be leveraged in exploitation. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unofficial sources and encourage the use of Google Play Protect and other security features. 7) For high-risk environments, consider device management policies that restrict local user access or use hardened Android variants with additional security controls. 8) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on mobile device security to identify potential exploitation paths. These targeted measures will help reduce the attack surface and improve detection and response capabilities against exploitation attempts of this vulnerability.