CVE-2025-36904: Google Android WLAN Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-36904 Overview

CVE-2025-36904 is a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) component in Android on Google Pixel devices. This vulnerability, tracked internally by Google as A-396458384, allows attackers to elevate privileges on affected devices without requiring user interaction or prior authentication.

The vulnerability exists in the WLAN subsystem and can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation grants attackers elevated privileges on the target device, potentially leading to complete device compromise, unauthorized data access, and the ability to execute arbitrary operations with elevated permissions.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability enables unauthenticated remote attackers to gain elevated privileges on Google Pixel devices through the WLAN component, potentially allowing complete device takeover without user interaction.

Affected Products

• Google Android on Pixel devices (versions prior to September 5, 2025 security patch level)

Discovery Timeline

• September 4, 2025 - CVE-2025-36904 published to NVD
• September 5, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-36904

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-36904 is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating a fundamental flaw in how the WLAN component handles privilege boundaries. The vulnerability resides in Android's WLAN subsystem on Pixel devices, which fails to properly enforce privilege restrictions during certain network operations.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability is particularly concerning for mobile devices that frequently connect to various wireless networks. An attacker positioned on the same network or capable of establishing malicious network infrastructure could potentially exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges on vulnerable Pixel devices.

The lack of required privileges, user interaction, or authentication makes this vulnerability especially dangerous in public WiFi scenarios, corporate environments, or any situation where Pixel devices connect to potentially untrusted wireless networks.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper privilege management (CWE-269) within the WLAN component. The vulnerability allows privilege escalation due to insufficient validation or enforcement of privilege boundaries when processing WLAN-related operations. This architectural flaw enables attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and operate with elevated privileges that should not be accessible from a network context.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target device. The exploitation flow involves:

1. Attacker establishes network proximity or access to the same wireless network as the target device
2. Malicious network traffic or specially crafted WLAN operations are sent to the vulnerable device
3. The WLAN component processes these operations without proper privilege validation
4. Attacker gains elevated privileges on the target Pixel device

The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it highly exploitable in opportunistic attack scenarios.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36904

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual WLAN service behavior or crashes on Pixel devices
• Unexpected privilege escalation events logged in system logs
• Anomalous network traffic patterns originating from the WLAN subsystem
• Unauthorized processes running with elevated privileges after WiFi connections

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Android system logs for privilege escalation attempts related to WLAN services
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect anomalous WLAN-related communications
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring Android privilege boundaries
• Establish baseline behavior for WLAN processes and alert on deviations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for WLAN and network-related services on managed Pixel devices
• Configure Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor security patch levels
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable devices
• Utilize SentinelOne Mobile Threat Defense for real-time monitoring of privilege escalation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36904

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the September 2025 Android security patch immediately to all Google Pixel devices
• Audit all managed Pixel devices to verify security patch level is 2025-09-05 or later
• Limit connection of unpatched devices to untrusted WiFi networks
• Consider temporary WiFi restrictions on vulnerable devices until patching is complete

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in the September 2025 Android Security Bulletin. The fix is included in security patch level 2025-09-05. Device administrators should ensure all Pixel devices are updated to this patch level or later. Detailed patch information is available in the Android Security Bulletin September 2025.

Workarounds

• Disable WiFi on vulnerable devices when not in use or when connecting to untrusted networks
• Use VPN connections when WiFi is required to add an additional layer of network security
• Implement network access control (NAC) to restrict vulnerable devices from connecting to corporate networks
• Monitor and restrict WLAN functionality through MDM policies until patches can be applied

# Check Android security patch level via ADB
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for patched devices: 2025-09-05 or later