CVE-2025-48586 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability identified in Google Android versions 15 and 16, specifically within the onActivityResult method of the EditFdnContactScreen.java component. The root cause is a confused deputy problem, where the application improperly handles permissions or authority, allowing an attacker to access contacts stored in the work profile. The work profile is designed to isolate corporate data from personal data on Android devices, so leaking contacts from this profile undermines this separation and exposes sensitive enterprise information. Notably, exploitation does not require any additional execution privileges or user interaction, meaning an attacker with local access to the device can trigger the vulnerability silently. This could be achieved through a malicious app or code running on the device that leverages the flawed logic in onActivityResult to extract contact data from the work profile. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be leveraged for data exfiltration and potentially further privilege escalation. The absence of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and pending full assessment. The vulnerability affects Android versions 15 and 16, which are recent major releases, implying a broad user base including enterprise environments that utilize Android work profiles for BYOD or corporate devices. The flaw compromises confidentiality primarily but could also impact integrity if combined with other exploits. The vulnerability's local scope and lack of required user interaction increase its risk profile, especially in environments where device access is less controlled. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2025 and published in December 2025, indicating a relatively recent discovery. No patches or mitigations have been linked yet, so organizations must monitor for updates from Google. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure inter-profile communication and strict permission enforcement in Android's work profile implementation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of corporate contact data stored within Android work profiles. Many enterprises in Europe rely on Android devices with work profiles to separate personal and business data, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government. Unauthorized access to work profile contacts could lead to exposure of sensitive business relationships, insider information, or personally identifiable information (PII), potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The local nature of the exploit means that attackers need some level of device access, which could be achieved through malware or physical access, raising concerns in environments with less stringent endpoint security. The elevation of privilege aspect could allow attackers to gain further control over the device, increasing the risk of lateral movement or data exfiltration. The lack of required user interaction makes the attack stealthier and harder to detect. This vulnerability could also undermine trust in mobile device management (MDM) solutions that rely on work profiles for data separation. Overall, the impact includes potential data breaches, regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and increased operational risk for European organizations using affected Android versions.

Until official patches are released by Google, European organizations should implement several targeted mitigations: 1) Restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary applications on devices with work profiles to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 2) Enforce strict device access controls, including strong authentication and endpoint protection, to prevent unauthorized local access. 3) Use Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) solutions that can detect suspicious local activity or privilege escalation attempts. 4) Limit the permissions granted to apps, especially those that can interact with contacts or profile data, using Android's permission management and enterprise mobility management (EMM) policies. 5) Monitor device logs and network traffic for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unknown sources and the importance of device security hygiene. 7) Plan for rapid deployment of patches once Google releases updates addressing this vulnerability. 8) Consider temporarily disabling work profiles on high-risk devices if feasible until patches are applied. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, app permissions, and monitoring specific to the vulnerability's exploitation vector.