CVE-2025-48597 is a local elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Google Android versions 14, 15, and 16. The vulnerability arises from multiple locations within the Android OS where a tapjacking or overlay attack can be used to trick the system into accepting permissions improperly. Tapjacking involves overlaying malicious UI elements over legitimate permission dialogs, causing the system to register unintended user consent. Uniquely, this vulnerability does not require any additional execution privileges or user interaction, meaning an attacker with local access can exploit it stealthily. The attack vector leverages the Android permission granting process, allowing an attacker to escalate their privileges locally, potentially gaining access to restricted system functions or sensitive data. While no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to its stealthy nature and the broad impact on Android devices. The absence of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and pending further analysis. The vulnerability's technical details highlight that it affects multiple locations in the permission handling code, increasing the attack surface. This flaw could be exploited by malicious apps or local attackers to bypass security controls, undermining the integrity and confidentiality of the device. Given Android's widespread use in Europe across consumer and enterprise environments, this vulnerability could have broad implications if exploited. The lack of user interaction requirement further increases the risk, as exploitation can occur without alerting the device owner. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2025 and published in December 2025, indicating a recent discovery. No patches or exploits are currently listed, so organizations should monitor for updates from Google. Overall, this vulnerability represents a critical security concern for Android users and administrators, especially in environments relying heavily on mobile security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-48597 could be substantial due to the widespread use of Android devices in both consumer and enterprise contexts. Successful exploitation allows local attackers or malicious applications to escalate privileges without user consent or interaction, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, system settings, or security controls. This could result in data breaches, unauthorized data exfiltration, or disruption of mobile device management policies. The stealthy nature of the attack increases the likelihood of undetected compromise, complicating incident response efforts. Organizations relying on Android devices for secure communications, authentication, or access to corporate resources may face increased risk of lateral movement or privilege escalation within their mobile environments. Additionally, sectors with high regulatory requirements for data protection, such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the potential for rapid weaponization remains. Overall, the vulnerability threatens the confidentiality and integrity of mobile endpoints critical to European business operations.

To mitigate CVE-2025-48597, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor official Google security advisories and apply patches promptly once available for Android versions 14, 15, and 16. 2) Implement strict controls on overlay permissions (e.g., SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW) to limit which applications can draw over other apps, reducing the attack surface for tapjacking. 3) Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce application whitelisting and restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps that could exploit this vulnerability. 4) Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unknown sources and encourage use of official app stores with vetting processes. 5) Use runtime protection tools that can detect suspicious overlay or UI manipulation behaviors. 6) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on mobile devices to identify potential exploitation attempts. 7) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring privilege escalation activities on mobile devices. 8) For high-risk environments, evaluate the feasibility of temporarily restricting use of affected Android versions until patches are deployed. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling overlay permissions and leveraging enterprise security tools to detect and prevent exploitation.