CVE-2025-48536 Overview
CVE-2025-48536 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Android operating system. The flaw resides in the grantAllowlistedPackagePermissions method of SettingsSliceProvider.java. A confused deputy condition allows a third-party application to modify secure settings that it should not have access to. Exploitation requires no user interaction and no additional execution privileges beyond those normally granted to an installed application. Google addressed the issue in the December 2025 Android Security Bulletin. The vulnerability affects Android 13, 14, 15, and 16.
Critical Impact
A local, unprivileged Android application can escalate privileges and modify secure settings without user interaction, compromising device confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected Products
- Google Android 13.0
- Google Android 14.0
- Google Android 15.0 and Android 16.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-12-01 - Google publishes fix in the Android Security Bulletin
- 2025-12-08 - CVE-2025-48536 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48536
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a confused deputy issue [CWE-441] in the Android Settings application. SettingsSliceProvider exposes slice-based interactions to other applications on the device. The grantAllowlistedPackagePermissions method is intended to grant URI permissions only to a curated list of trusted packages. Because the Settings app itself holds elevated permissions, any operation it performs on behalf of a caller runs with those higher privileges. When the allowlist check can be bypassed or misused, an untrusted caller inherits the ability to modify secure settings normally restricted to system components.
Root Cause
The root cause is inadequate validation of the calling package inside grantAllowlistedPackagePermissions. The Settings component acts as a deputy for the caller and applies its own privileges to actions requested by third-party code. Without a strict identity binding between the intended trusted caller and the actual invoking package, a malicious app can direct the deputy to grant permissions or modify secure settings on its behalf.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is local. A malicious application installed on the device invokes the vulnerable provider path in Settings to trigger permission grants against protected secure settings. No user prompt, additional privileges, or social engineering are required. Successful exploitation yields modification of secure settings, which can be used to weaken device security posture, disable protections, or stage further compromise. See the Android Settings code review for the exact patched call site.
No public proof-of-concept has been published. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin December 2025 for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48536
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to Settings.Secure values on devices that have not received the December 2025 patch level.
- Third-party applications issuing ContentResolver calls against content://com.android.settings.slices/.
- Apps holding URI permissions to Settings slices without matching entries in the platform allowlist.
Detection Strategies
- Audit installed applications for use of the SettingsSliceProvider authority and compare callers to Google's platform allowlist.
- Use Android's dumpsys package and dumpsys settings output to identify unexpected grantees of secure settings write access.
- On managed fleets, enforce Play Protect and enterprise application vetting to flag apps invoking Settings slice URIs.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track device Android security patch levels and alert on devices below the 2025-12-01 patch level.
- Ingest MDM telemetry into a SIEM to correlate settings changes with application installs.
- Monitor for anomalous changes to security-relevant secure settings such as install_non_market_apps, location_providers_allowed, and accessibility service configuration.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48536
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Android security patch level 2025-12-01 or later on all supported devices.
- Prioritize patch deployment for devices running Android 13, 14, 15, and 16.
- Remove untrusted or unnecessary third-party applications from managed devices until patches are installed.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Android Security Bulletin December 2025. The upstream code change is available in the Android Settings code review. Device manufacturers deliver the fix through vendor OTA updates that raise the security patch level to 2025-12-01 or later.
Workarounds
- Restrict application installation to Google Play and block sideloading via enterprise policy.
- Use MDM configuration to enforce Play Protect scanning and block installation of unknown sources.
- Where patching is delayed, isolate high-value devices from untrusted networks and applications.
# Verify Android security patch level on a device via adb
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for patched devices: 2025-12-01 or later
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
