CVE-2025-48595: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-48595 Overview

CVE-2025-48595 is an integer overflow vulnerability [CWE-190] affecting multiple locations within the Google Android operating system. The flaw enables local code execution that can be leveraged for privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. Google addressed the issue in the June 2026 Android Security Bulletin.

The vulnerability impacts Android versions 14, 15, and 16, including the QPR2 beta releases. CISA added CVE-2025-48595 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can trigger an integer overflow to execute code and escalate privileges on affected Android devices without user interaction.

Affected Products

• Google Android 14.0
• Google Android 15.0
• Google Android 16.0 (including QPR2 Beta 1, 2, and 3)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-06-01 - Google publishes the Android Security Bulletin addressing CVE-2025-48595
• 2026-06-01 - CVE-2025-48595 published to NVD
• 2026-06-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-48595

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition present in multiple locations within Android system components. An integer overflow occurs when arithmetic operations produce a value exceeding the maximum representable size of the target integer type. This wraparound corrupts subsequent calculations such as buffer size allocations or boundary checks.

When the overflowed value feeds into memory allocation or indexing operations, attackers can force undersized buffer allocations followed by larger writes. This mismatch results in memory corruption that can be steered into arbitrary code execution. The flaw requires only local access, with no privileges or user interaction.

Google classifies the issue as enabling local escalation of privilege. CISA's KEV listing indicates threat actors are exploiting the vulnerability against Android devices in real-world campaigns.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of arithmetic operations across multiple Android code paths, allowing computed sizes or offsets to wrap around the integer boundary. Without bounds checks before the overflow occurs, downstream allocators and memory operations process attacker-controlled values that violate underlying assumptions.

Attack Vector

A local attacker, such as an unprivileged app or a malicious process running on the device, can craft inputs that drive the vulnerable arithmetic past the integer boundary. The resulting memory corruption is then converted into code execution within a privileged context, granting the attacker elevated rights on the device. Because exploitation does not require user interaction, malware delivered through other channels can chain this flaw silently. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin June 2026 for component-level technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48595

Indicators of Compromise

• Unprivileged applications spawning processes or accessing resources outside their sandbox boundaries
• Unexpected SELinux denials or kernel panics referencing system services on affected Android versions
• Installation of applications from unverified sources immediately preceding privilege-related anomalies

Detection Strategies

• Monitor mobile device management (MDM) telemetry for devices running unpatched Android 14, 15, or 16 builds
• Track applications requesting unusual native library loads or interacting with privileged system services
• Correlate crash logs and tombstone reports for repeated faults in components referenced by the June 2026 Android Security Bulletin

Monitoring Recommendations

• Centralize Android security patch level reporting across the device fleet via MDM or EMM consoles
• Alert on devices that fall behind the June 2026 security patch level
• Review installed application inventories for sideloaded or recently installed apps coinciding with anomalous behavior

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48595

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the June 2026 Android security patch level (2026-06-01 or later) to all managed devices immediately
• Prioritize patching for devices appearing in the CISA KEV remediation scope, as exploitation is confirmed in the wild
• Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources through MDM policy enforcement

Patch Information

Google released fixes in the Android Security Bulletin June 2026. Devices must be updated to the 2026-06-01 security patch level or later. OEMs ship the fix on their own schedules, so confirm vendor-specific availability for each device model. The vulnerability is tracked in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

Workarounds

• Disable installation of apps from unknown sources and require Google Play Protect verification
• Limit privileged or sensitive workloads on devices that cannot yet receive the June 2026 patch
• Enforce conditional access policies that block non-compliant Android versions from corporate resources

# Verify the security patch level on an Android device via adb
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output: 2026-06-01 or later