CVE-2025-48592 is a vulnerability identified in Google Android versions 15 and 16, specifically within the initDecoder function of the C2SoftDav1dDec.cpp source file. The root cause is a heap buffer overflow that leads to an out-of-bounds read condition. This memory safety issue allows an attacker to remotely disclose information from the device's memory without needing additional execution privileges or user interaction, which significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow), indicating improper handling of memory boundaries. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity level with a vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and no availability impact (A:N). No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability's nature suggests potential for attackers to extract sensitive information remotely, such as cryptographic keys or personal data stored in memory buffers. The affected Android versions are relatively recent, implying that many devices in use today could be vulnerable. The lack of required user interaction and the network attack vector make this a significant threat for mobile users and organizations relying on Android devices for sensitive communications or operations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality of sensitive information on Android devices running versions 15 and 16. Since many enterprises and government agencies use Android smartphones and tablets for communication, data access, and operational control, an attacker exploiting this flaw could remotely extract sensitive data without alerting the user. This could lead to exposure of personal identifiable information (PII), corporate secrets, or authentication tokens. The absence of integrity or availability impact reduces the risk of system disruption or data manipulation, but information leakage alone can facilitate further attacks such as targeted phishing or lateral movement. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction, increasing the likelihood of automated or widespread attacks. European sectors with high mobile device usage, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, could face increased exposure. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may find it challenging to enforce timely patching, increasing the attack surface. The medium severity rating suggests that while urgent, the threat is not critical, but ignoring it could lead to significant data breaches.

1. Monitor for official patches from Google and apply them promptly to all affected Android devices, prioritizing those in sensitive roles or handling critical data. 2. Until patches are available, restrict network exposure of vulnerable services by enforcing strict firewall rules and network segmentation to limit remote access to Android devices. 3. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, including automatic updates and application whitelisting. 4. Utilize runtime memory protection technologies such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) where supported to reduce exploitation success. 5. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on mobile endpoints to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Educate users about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks and encourage the use of VPNs to secure communications. 7. Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures or heuristics capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 8. For organizations with BYOD policies, enforce minimum OS version requirements and restrict access for non-compliant devices. 9. Maintain robust incident response plans to quickly address any detected compromise related to this vulnerability.