CVE-2025-48572

CVE-2025-48572 is a permissions bypass in multiple locations of the Android Framework that allows activities to be launched from the background in violation of normal permission rules. It is triggered locally — per the CVSS vector, an attacker (typically a malicious or compromised app already on the device) needs only low local privileges, with no user interaction required. Successful exploitation yields local escalation of privilege with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, giving the attacker elevated control over the device. Android devices running an affected version of the Android Framework are in scope; specific affected version numbers are not given in the source data, and the fix shipped in Google's December 2025 Android security update alongside the related in-the-wild flaw CVE-2025-48633. The bug is being exploited in targeted attacks in the wild — Google described it as 'under targeted exploitation' and CISA added it to the KEV catalog on 2025-12-02 (ransomware use: unknown) — although no public proof-of-concept is known and EPSS remains low at 0.3%.

What to do: Apply Google's December 2025 Android security bulletin patches as soon as the OTA update reaches your devices (Pixel and Google-supported models typically receive monthly updates first) and verify the patch level in system update settings. Because exploitation requires an existing local foothold, review and remove untrusted or sideloaded apps on high-value and managed devices. Under CISA KEV / BOD 22-01 requirements, federal agencies must apply the vendor mitigation or discontinue use of affected products within the required timeframe.