CVE-2025-48624: Google Android Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-48624 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Google Android caused by an out-of-bounds write in arm-smmu-v3.c. This flaw allows local attackers to gain elevated privileges without user interaction. This article covers technical details, affected versions, impact assessment, and mitigation strategies.

CVE-2025-48624 Overview

CVE-2025-48624 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the Android kernel driver arm-smmu-v3.c, which implements support for the Arm System Memory Management Unit v3. The flaw stems from improper input validation across multiple functions in the driver. A local attacker with low privileges can trigger the out-of-bounds write to escalate privileges on affected Android devices. No user interaction is required for exploitation. Google addressed the issue in the December 2025 Android Security Bulletin.

Critical Impact
Local privilege escalation to kernel context through memory corruption in the Arm SMMUv3 driver, with no user interaction required.

Affected Products

Google Android (kernel component arm-smmu-v3)
Devices shipping Arm SMMUv3-enabled kernels prior to the December 2025 patch level
Downstream Android distributions inheriting the affected common kernel

Discovery Timeline

2025-12-01 - Fix published in Android Security Bulletin (December 2025)
2025-12-08 - CVE-2025-48624 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-48624

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in arm-smmu-v3.c, the Linux kernel driver providing IOMMU services for Arm SMMUv3 hardware on Android platforms. Multiple functions in the driver accept inputs that are not adequately validated before being used to compute buffer offsets or sizes. The result is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] rooted in improper input validation [CWE-20].

Because the SMMU driver operates in kernel space and manages Direct Memory Access (DMA) translations for peripherals, corrupting adjacent kernel memory allows an attacker to influence privileged data structures. Successful exploitation elevates a local, low-privileged process to kernel-level execution. The impact covers confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds checking on attacker-influenced values used during SMMU stream table, command queue, or context descriptor manipulation. When these values exceed expected ranges, the driver writes beyond the intended buffer boundary. The upstream fix is tracked in the Android common kernel commit 0668e45a43398a07c3aa2ae08903097657efd87e.

Attack Vector

An attacker requires local code execution on the device, such as through a compromised or malicious application. The attacker interacts with kernel interfaces that reach the SMMUv3 driver to supply crafted parameters that trigger the out-of-bounds write. No user interaction is required, and the attack completes within the local process boundary before escalating to kernel privilege.

No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Android Kernel Change Log for the exact code paths modified by the fix.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48624

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel oops or panic messages referencing arm_smmu symbols in kernel logs
Sudden privilege changes for local processes without a legitimate authentication event
Loaded kernel modules or SELinux denials that indicate tampering with IOMMU-related structures
Devices reporting a security patch level earlier than December 2025 while in production use

Detection Strategies

Inventory device fleets for Android security patch levels below 2025-12-01 and flag noncompliant endpoints
Correlate mobile endpoint telemetry with anomalous process elevation events on Android devices
Monitor for repeated crashes in kernel components tied to SMMUv3 during otherwise routine workloads
Review application installs for unsigned or sideloaded packages that could deliver a local exploit payload

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Android device compliance data from Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) systems
Alert when devices fall behind on monthly Android Security Bulletin patch levels
Track kernel crash reports centrally to identify clusters of failures affecting the SMMUv3 driver

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48624

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the December 2025 Android security patch level or later to all affected devices
Enforce MDM policies that block enrollment or access for devices missing the latest patch level
Restrict installation of untrusted applications that could execute local code on affected devices
Prioritize patch deployment on devices used by administrators or high-value users

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Android Security Bulletin December 2025. The corresponding kernel change is available in the Android Kernel Change Log. Original equipment manufacturers must integrate the patch into their device-specific builds and distribute an over-the-air update to end users.

Workarounds

No official workaround exists; patching is the only supported remediation
Limit exposure by restricting sideloading and enforcing Google Play Protect on managed devices
Segment untrusted or unpatched devices from sensitive enterprise resources until updates are applied

bash

# Verify Android security patch level on a connected device
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output: 2025-12-01 or later