CVE-2025-65835 identifies a vulnerability in the Cordova plugin cordova-plugin-x-socialsharing version 6.0.4 for Android platforms. This plugin registers an exported broadcast receiver named nl.xservices.plugins.ShareChooserPendingIntent that listens for intents with the action android.intent.action.SEND. The vulnerability arises because the onReceive method accesses the Intent.EXTRA_CHOSEN_COMPONENT extra without verifying its presence, leading to a NullPointerException if the extra is missing. Since the broadcast receiver is exported and lacks any permission checks or caller validation, any local application on the device can send a crafted ACTION_SEND broadcast intent without the required extra, causing the host application to crash repeatedly. This results in a local denial of service (DoS) at the application level, disrupting the availability of any app embedding this plugin. The flaw does not require user interaction or authentication, but exploitation is limited to local apps on the device, reducing the attack scope. No patches or updates are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability highlights the risks of improperly secured exported components in Android apps, especially those relying on third-party plugins. Developers should validate intent extras and restrict exported broadcast receivers to trusted callers to mitigate such risks.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-65835 is the potential for local denial of service on Android applications that incorporate the vulnerable cordova-plugin-x-socialsharing version 6.0.4. This can degrade user experience, disrupt business operations relying on mobile apps, and potentially cause reputational damage if critical apps become unstable or unusable. Although the attack requires a malicious local app, the risk is heightened in environments where users may install untrusted apps or where devices are shared. Industries with mobile workforce or customer-facing apps using Cordova plugins—such as retail, finance, and public services—may face operational interruptions. The vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity but affects availability, which can be critical for service continuity. The absence of remote exploitation limits the threat to device-level attacks, but insider threats or compromised devices could exploit this flaw. European organizations should assess their mobile app portfolios for usage of this plugin version and prioritize remediation to maintain app stability and user trust.

To mitigate CVE-2025-65835, organizations and developers should: 1) Update the cordova-plugin-x-socialsharing to a patched version once available that properly validates the presence of Intent.EXTRA_CHOSEN_COMPONENT before dereferencing. 2) If no patch is available, implement custom validation in the app code to check for null extras in the broadcast receiver and handle such cases gracefully to prevent crashes. 3) Restrict the broadcast receiver by removing the exported attribute or adding permission checks to ensure only trusted apps can send intents. 4) Employ application hardening techniques such as runtime checks and exception handling to prevent unhandled NullPointerExceptions. 5) Conduct thorough testing of broadcast receivers for robustness against malformed intents. 6) Educate users and administrators to avoid installing untrusted local apps that could exploit this vulnerability. 7) Monitor app crash logs and user reports for signs of exploitation. 8) Consider using alternative sharing plugins with better security practices if timely patching is not feasible. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on intent validation, receiver exposure restriction, and proactive monitoring specific to this vulnerability.