CVE-2025-48544 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting multiple recent versions of the Google Android operating system, specifically versions 13 through 16. The root cause of this vulnerability is SQL injection (CWE-89) in multiple locations within the Android platform, which allows an attacker to read files belonging to other applications. This unauthorized file access can lead to a local escalation of privilege without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is exploitable locally, meaning an attacker must have some form of local access to the device, but no user interaction is needed to trigger the exploit. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and requiring low privileges. The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass Android's application sandboxing by exploiting SQL injection flaws to access sensitive data stored by other apps, potentially exposing private user data, credentials, or other sensitive information. Since no patch links are currently available, it suggests that fixes may still be under development or pending release. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the presence of SQL injection in a core OS component is a significant concern due to the potential for widespread impact across millions of devices running affected Android versions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises that rely on Android devices for business operations, including BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies. The ability to escalate privileges locally without user interaction means that if an attacker gains physical or local access to a device, they could extract sensitive corporate data, credentials, or intellectual property stored within apps. This could lead to data breaches, loss of confidentiality, and potential disruption of business processes. Additionally, given the high integrity and availability impact, attackers might manipulate or delete critical data, affecting operational continuity. The vulnerability could also be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value individuals or organizations, including government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure operators in Europe. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation in environments where devices are shared or less physically secure.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate inventory and identification of all Android devices running affected versions (13 to 16) within the organization. 2) Restrict local access to devices, enforcing strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local exploitation. 3) Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor device compliance and enforce security policies, including disabling installation of untrusted applications that could facilitate local attacks. 4) Educate users about the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of device lock screens with strong authentication. 5) Monitor for unusual local activity or privilege escalations on Android devices using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools tailored for mobile platforms. 6) Stay alert for official patches or security updates from Google and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider deploying application sandboxing enhancements or containerization solutions to further isolate sensitive corporate apps and data. 8) For critical environments, consider restricting use of affected Android versions until patches are released or devices can be upgraded to unaffected versions.