CVE-2025-22413: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-22413 Overview

CVE-2025-22413 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Google Android's kernel hypervisor component. The vulnerability exists in multiple functions within hyp-main.c, where a logic error in the code allows for local information disclosure. Notably, this vulnerability requires no additional execution privileges and can be exploited without any user interaction.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can exploit this logic error to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information on affected Android devices without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction.

Affected Products

• Google Android (all versions prior to March 2025 security patch)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-08-26 - CVE-2025-22413 published to NVD
• 2025-09-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22413

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Android kernel's hypervisor main component (hyp-main.c), which is responsible for managing the hypervisor's core functionality. The underlying issue is classified as CWE-703 (Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions), indicating that the code fails to properly handle certain exceptional conditions during execution.

This logic error creates an opportunity for local privilege escalation. An attacker with local access to an Android device can leverage this flaw to bypass security boundaries and access confidential information that should be protected by the hypervisor layer. The attack can be executed locally without requiring any special privileges, making it particularly concerning for shared device scenarios or devices with multiple user profiles.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-22413 is a logic error in the hypervisor's main control flow within hyp-main.c. The code fails to properly validate or handle exceptional conditions, creating a path where security checks can be bypassed. This improper handling allows information to leak from protected memory regions to unprivileged contexts.

Attack Vector

The attack is local in nature, meaning an attacker must have some form of access to the target Android device. However, the barrier to exploitation is notably low since no additional execution privileges are required beyond what a standard application or user would possess. The attack does not require user interaction, meaning a malicious application could potentially exploit this vulnerability silently in the background.

The exploitation mechanism involves triggering the logic error condition in the hypervisor's handling routines. When the exceptional condition occurs, the improper handling allows the attacker's context to read information that should remain confidential within the hypervisor's protected domain.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22413

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual memory access patterns targeting hypervisor-related kernel structures
• Applications attempting to interact with hypervisor interfaces in unexpected ways
• Anomalous information flows from kernel space to userspace processes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for suspicious local process activity attempting to access hypervisor components
• Implement kernel-level auditing to track access patterns to hyp-main.c related functions
• Deploy mobile threat detection solutions capable of identifying privilege escalation attempts on Android devices

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive Android device logging and forward logs to a centralized SIEM
• Utilize SentinelOne's mobile threat defense capabilities to detect anomalous behavior on Android endpoints
• Regularly audit installed applications for suspicious permission usage or behavior patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22413

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the March 2025 Android security patch immediately on all affected devices
• Review device access controls to limit exposure from potentially compromised users or applications
• Monitor managed Android devices for signs of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in the Android Security Bulletin March 2025. Two kernel commits have been released to remediate the issue:

• Kernel Commit 1a3366f0d3d9b94a8c025d9863edc3b427435c4c
• Kernel Commit add3d68602a0c48ed2d5659f0cf26d869776ab35

Organizations should prioritize updating Android devices through their mobile device management (MDM) solutions or ensure users apply the latest security updates directly.

Workarounds

• Restrict device access to trusted users only until patches can be applied
• Implement application whitelisting on managed Android devices to prevent untrusted code execution
• Consider network segmentation to isolate unpatched Android devices from sensitive resources
• Use SentinelOne Mobile Threat Defense to provide additional protection layers while awaiting patch deployment