CVE-2025-48558 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 lies in the BatteryService.java component, where implicit intents intended for system apps can be hijacked due to improper handling of implicit intent dispatch. Implicit intents in Android are messages that allow components to request actions from other components without specifying the exact target, relying on the system to resolve the appropriate recipient. In this case, an attacker with limited privileges on the device can exploit this flaw to redirect these intents to malicious components they control. This hijacking enables the attacker to escalate their privileges locally without needing any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-927 (Improper Neutralization of Intent or Trust Boundaries), indicating a failure to properly validate or restrict intent targets. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk for affected Android devices. No patches or fixes have been linked yet, so affected users and organizations should monitor for updates from Google.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for enterprises relying on Android devices for sensitive communications, mobile workforce operations, or device management. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on compromised devices, potentially leading to unauthorized access to confidential corporate data, manipulation or disruption of device operations, and lateral movement within corporate networks if devices are connected. Since no user interaction is required, the attack surface is broad, increasing the likelihood of stealthy compromise. This is particularly concerning for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in mobile device security, impacting compliance with GDPR and other regulatory frameworks. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy. First, they must prioritize updating Android devices to patched versions as soon as Google releases fixes. Until patches are available, organizations should enforce strict application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or third-party apps to reduce the risk of malicious components exploiting the intent hijacking. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor device behavior and enforce security policies, including disabling or limiting apps that handle intents in sensitive contexts. Network segmentation and use of VPNs can help isolate compromised devices from critical infrastructure. Security teams should also conduct regular audits of device configurations and permissions, focusing on apps that interact with system services like BatteryService. User education should emphasize the risks of installing unknown apps, even though user interaction is not required for exploitation, to reduce overall attack vectors. Finally, organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit developments related to CVE-2025-48558.