CVE-2025-48542 is a vulnerability identified in multiple functions within the AccountManagerService.java component of the Google Android operating system, specifically affecting versions 13 through 16. The flaw arises from improper handling of resources, leading to potential resource exhaustion. This exhaustion can cause a permanent denial of service (DoS) condition locally on the device. The vulnerability does not require any additional execution privileges, meaning that an unprivileged local attacker or process can exploit it. Furthermore, exploitation does not require any user interaction, which increases the risk of automated or background attacks. The root cause is related to resource management within the AccountManagerService, a critical system service responsible for managing user accounts on Android devices. When exploited, the service may become unresponsive or crash, thereby denying legitimate users access to account-related functionalities and potentially impacting other dependent services. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or CVSS scores have been published at this time.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises relying heavily on Android devices for business operations, including mobile workforce management, secure communications, and access to corporate resources. A local denial of service on Android devices can disrupt employee productivity by rendering account management services unusable, potentially locking users out of essential applications that depend on account authentication. This can also affect Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, where personal devices are used for work, increasing the attack surface. Moreover, if exploited in environments where Android devices are integrated into critical infrastructure or used for secure communications, the DoS could have broader operational impacts. Although the vulnerability requires local access, the lack of need for user interaction means malware or malicious apps with limited privileges could trigger the DoS, increasing the risk in environments with less stringent app vetting or device management controls.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement several targeted measures beyond generic advice: 1) Enforce strict application vetting and permissions management to prevent untrusted or malicious apps from gaining local access capable of triggering the DoS. 2) Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and restrict the installation of unauthorized applications and to enforce security policies that limit local privilege escalation. 3) Regularly audit and update Android devices to the latest available versions as soon as patches become available from Google, even if not yet officially released, to ensure the vulnerability is addressed. 4) Implement anomaly detection on devices to identify unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from untrusted sources, as local access is required for exploitation. 6) For critical environments, consider isolating Android devices or limiting their use for sensitive operations until patches are applied.