CVE-2025-48576 is a vulnerability identified in Google Android's NotificationManagerService component, specifically in the updateNotificationChannelGroupFromPrivilegedListener method. The flaw is due to improper handling of resources, leading to potential resource exhaustion (classified under CWE-400). This exhaustion can cause a permanent denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected device. The vulnerability requires local privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N) and has low attack complexity (AC:L). The attacker can trigger the resource exhaustion by invoking the vulnerable function repeatedly or in a crafted manner, causing the system to allocate resources until depletion, which results in the NotificationManagerService becoming unresponsive or crashing. This impacts the availability of notification services and potentially other dependent system functions. The affected Android versions include 13, 14, 15, and 16, which are recent and widely deployed. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating the vulnerability is newly disclosed. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting medium severity due to the local attack vector and lack of impact on confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges beyond local access, making it a concern for scenarios where an attacker gains local access, such as through malicious apps or compromised devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the availability of Android devices used within their infrastructure. Organizations relying heavily on Android smartphones or tablets for critical communication or operational tasks may experience service interruptions if devices are targeted. The denial of service could disrupt notification delivery, impacting user awareness of important alerts or system messages. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the loss of availability can hinder business continuity, especially in sectors like healthcare, finance, or emergency services where timely notifications are crucial. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may face increased risk if employees' devices are exploited, potentially affecting internal communications. The lack of required user interaction simplifies exploitation once local access is obtained, increasing the threat in environments where device control is less restricted. However, the requirement for local privileges limits remote exploitation, reducing the risk from external attackers without device access.

Organizations should prioritize monitoring and managing Android devices running versions 13 through 16. Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Applying official patches from Google as soon as they become available to address the resource exhaustion flaw. 2) Restricting installation of untrusted or potentially malicious applications that could exploit local privileges to trigger the vulnerability. 3) Implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, control app permissions, and monitor unusual resource usage patterns related to notification services. 4) Educating users about the risks of installing unauthorized apps and maintaining device hygiene. 5) Regularly auditing device logs for signs of repeated calls to notification management functions that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Considering network segmentation or access controls to limit local access to devices in sensitive environments. 7) Encouraging users to upgrade to newer Android versions beyond 16 once patches are released or when feasible, as newer versions may include fixes or mitigations. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local privilege abuse and monitoring notification service behavior specifically.