CVE-2025-8192 is a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability identified in the Android TV platform, specifically within the TvSettings AppRestrictionsFragment.java component. The vulnerability arises due to a timing window between the security check of an Intent and its subsequent use, allowing an attacker to alter the target component's state after the check but before the use. This manipulation enables the attacker to bypass the original security sanitization mechanisms. As a result, the attacker can start an arbitrary activity supplied by them but executed in the context of the Settings application, which runs with system-level privileges (system-uid). This escalation effectively allows launching activities anywhere within the system context, potentially leading to unauthorized actions with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-367, which corresponds to TOCTOU race conditions, a class of bugs where the system state changes between validation and use, leading to security bypasses. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level. The vector details show that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), partial privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and results in high impact on integrity and availability, with low impact on confidentiality. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability affects Android TV devices, which are widely used in consumer electronics for smart TV functionality.

For European organizations, especially those deploying Android TV devices in corporate, hospitality, or public environments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could allow an attacker with local access—such as a malicious insider, a compromised user account, or an attacker with physical access—to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary activities with system-level permissions. This could lead to unauthorized configuration changes, installation of persistent malware, or disruption of device availability. In environments where Android TVs are integrated into digital signage, conference rooms, or customer-facing kiosks, such compromise could result in data integrity issues, service outages, or exposure of sensitive operational controls. Furthermore, the ability to launch activities anywhere in the system context could be leveraged as a pivot point for lateral movement within a network if the device is connected to internal systems. Given the medium severity and the requirement for local access, the threat is more pronounced in scenarios where physical or local network access is feasible, such as hotels, offices, or public venues. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of stealthy exploitation once local access is obtained.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply security updates from Android TV vendors promptly once patches become available, as no official patch is currently linked. 2) Restrict local access to Android TV devices by enforcing strict physical security controls and network segmentation to limit exposure to untrusted users. 3) Implement application whitelisting and restrict installation of unauthorized apps on Android TV devices to reduce the attack surface. 4) Employ runtime monitoring and anomaly detection on Android TV devices to identify unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected activity launches or privilege escalations. 5) Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions that support Android TV to enforce security policies and remotely manage device configurations. 6) Educate staff and users about the risks of local access exploitation and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized physical or network access to these devices. 7) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on smart TV devices within the organizational environment to detect potential exploitation vectors early.