CVE-2025-48575 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability identified in Google Android operating system versions 13 through 16. The issue stems from a permissions bypass in multiple functions within the CertInstaller.java component, which is responsible for managing certificate installations on Android devices. Normally, installing certificates requires appropriate permissions to prevent unauthorized trust establishment. However, due to this flaw, an attacker with local access can install certificates without possessing the necessary execution privileges or requiring any user interaction. This bypass allows the attacker to escalate privileges on the device, potentially enabling them to intercept encrypted communications, install malicious certificates, or undermine the device's security model. The vulnerability does not require additional execution privileges or user interaction, making exploitation straightforward for any local attacker. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild, the vulnerability's presence in recent Android versions and its impact on certificate trust mechanisms make it a critical concern. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on the vulnerability's characteristics, which indicate a high severity due to the potential compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of device communications and data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have serious consequences. Android devices are widely used across Europe in both consumer and enterprise environments, including critical infrastructure, government, and private sectors. Exploitation could allow attackers to install rogue certificates, facilitating man-in-the-middle attacks, interception of encrypted traffic, and unauthorized access to sensitive data. This could undermine secure communications, lead to data breaches, and compromise the integrity of mobile applications and services. Organizations relying on Android devices for authentication, secure communications, or mobile workforce operations may face increased risk of espionage, data theft, or disruption. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without user interaction increases the threat level, especially in environments where devices may be physically accessible to attackers or compromised through other means. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Monitor for and apply official Google Android security patches as soon as they become available for versions 13 through 16. 2) Implement strict mobile device management (MDM) policies that restrict certificate installations to trusted administrators and enforce certificate pinning where possible. 3) Audit existing installed certificates on devices to detect unauthorized or suspicious entries. 4) Limit physical and local access to Android devices, especially in high-risk environments, to reduce the likelihood of local exploitation. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of unauthorized certificate installations and encourage reporting of unusual device behavior. 6) Employ network-level protections such as TLS inspection and anomaly detection to identify potential man-in-the-middle activities resulting from rogue certificates. 7) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring certificate store changes on Android devices. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on certificate management and local access controls specific to this vulnerability.