CVE-2025-22410: Google Android Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22410 Overview

CVE-2025-22410 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Google Android. The flaw resides in multiple locations within the platform and can be exploited locally to execute arbitrary code. Successful exploitation enables local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. Google addressed the issue through changes in the Android Bluetooth module, published in the Android March 2025 Security Bulletin. The vulnerability affects Android 15.0 and is tracked under Google's monthly security maintenance program.

Critical Impact
A local attacker can trigger a use-after-free condition to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges on an affected Android device without any user interaction.

Affected Products

Google Android 15.0
Android Bluetooth module (packages/modules/Bluetooth)
Devices receiving security patch level prior to 2025-03-01

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-26 - CVE-2025-22410 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22410

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] present in multiple locations within the Android platform. A use-after-free occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the underlying memory has been released. An attacker who controls the freed allocation can place attacker-influenced data at the original address, causing subsequent dereferences to operate on adversary-controlled memory. In this case, the dangling reference can be leveraged to corrupt program state and divert control flow, ultimately enabling arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected process.

The upstream fix in the Android Bluetooth Module Update indicates that the Bluetooth stack is one of the affected components. Code executing in Bluetooth-related system services typically runs with elevated platform privileges, which is consistent with the local privilege escalation outcome described in the advisory.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper management of object lifetimes. A reference to a heap object is retained and later dereferenced after the object has been freed. Without strict ownership or reference-count discipline, freed memory can be reallocated and populated with attacker-controlled content before the stale pointer is reused.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An attacker requires the ability to run code or trigger specific behaviors on the device, for example through a malicious application installed on the handset. No additional execution privileges are needed and no user interaction is required to exploit the flaw. Successful exploitation yields code execution at the privilege level of the vulnerable process, enabling privilege escalation on the device.

Refer to the Android March 2025 Security Bulletin and the upstream commit for component-specific technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22410

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes or tombstone files in /data/tombstones/ referencing the Bluetooth process or other affected modules.
Installation of unverified third-party applications requesting Bluetooth-related permissions shortly before anomalous device behavior.
Devices reporting a security patch level earlier than 2025-03-01 while running Android 15.0.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Android endpoints and flag devices running Android 15.0 with a patch level prior to March 2025.
Monitor mobile threat telemetry for repeated native crashes in com.android.bluetooth or related system services that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Correlate application install events with subsequent privilege-sensitive activity such as unexpected permission grants or persistence on the device.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Android security patch level and OS build data into the security data lake for fleet-wide compliance reporting.
Track Bluetooth subsystem stability metrics and alert on abnormal crash rates that deviate from baseline.
Review enterprise mobility management (EMM) logs for sideloaded applications on managed devices.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22410

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Android security patch level 2025-03-01 or later on all affected devices.
Identify and update any Android 15.0 endpoints that have not received the March 2025 bulletin patches.
Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources through EMM or MDM policy.

Patch Information

Google released the fix as part of the Android March 2025 Security Bulletin. The corresponding upstream change to the Bluetooth module is published at the Android Bluetooth Module Update. Device manufacturers integrate these changes into vendor-specific OTA updates, so end users should install the latest update available from their device vendor or carrier.

Workarounds

Disable Bluetooth on devices that cannot immediately receive the March 2025 patch, reducing exposure of the affected subsystem.
Limit installation privileges to vetted enterprise application stores and block sideloading on managed devices.
Enforce minimum patch level requirements in conditional access policies so devices below 2025-03-01 cannot access sensitive corporate resources.

bash

# Verify the Android security patch level on a connected device
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for patched devices: 2025-03-01 or later