CVE-2025-48551 is a medium-severity information disclosure vulnerability affecting multiple recent versions of the Google Android operating system (versions 13 through 16). The flaw arises from a confused deputy scenario where an image can be leaked across the Android User isolation boundary. This means that an application or process with limited privileges could potentially access image data that should be isolated and protected by the OS's user separation mechanisms. The vulnerability does not require elevated execution privileges but does require user interaction to be exploited, indicating that an attacker would need to trick a user into performing some action, such as opening a malicious file or interacting with a compromised app. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-441, which relates to improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer or data isolation boundary, leading to unintended data disclosure. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.0, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and no availability impact (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may require updates from Google or device manufacturers. The vulnerability could allow local attackers to bypass user data isolation and access sensitive image data, potentially leading to privacy violations or leakage of sensitive information stored in images or image buffers.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a privacy and data confidentiality risk, especially for entities handling sensitive visual data on Android devices, such as healthcare providers, financial institutions, and government agencies. Since the vulnerability allows local information disclosure without elevated privileges, it could be exploited by malicious insiders or through social engineering attacks that induce user interaction. The impact is particularly significant for organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or those that rely heavily on Android mobile devices for business operations. Unauthorized access to image data could lead to leakage of confidential information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information (PII), potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could result in reputational damage, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust. The requirement for user interaction somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, especially in environments where users may be targeted with phishing or social engineering campaigns.

European organizations should implement several targeted mitigation strategies beyond generic advice: 1) Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies that restrict installation of untrusted or third-party applications and enforce app vetting to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 2) Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content or applications, emphasizing caution when opening images or files from unknown sources. 3) Monitor and restrict the use of Android devices in sensitive environments, especially where sensitive image data is processed or stored. 4) Apply security updates and patches promptly once Google or device manufacturers release fixes for this vulnerability. In the interim, consider disabling or limiting features that involve image sharing or processing if feasible. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring anomalous local access patterns to image data or suspicious user interactions that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on mobile device security to identify potential exploitation vectors related to this vulnerability.