CVE-2025-48652 Overview
CVE-2025-48652 is a logic flaw in the performPreInstallChecks function of InstallRepository.kt in Google Android. The vulnerability allows a local attacker to bypass Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy enforcement during package installation. Successful exploitation results in local privilege escalation without requiring user interaction or additional execution privileges. The flaw affects Android 15.0 and multiple Android 16.0 builds, including QPR2 beta releases. Google addressed the issue in the June 2026 Android Security Bulletin. The weakness is tracked under [CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure].
Critical Impact
Local applications can bypass MDM-enforced installation restrictions, undermining enterprise device controls and enabling privilege escalation on managed Android devices.
Affected Products
- Google Android 15.0
- Google Android 16.0
- Google Android 16.0 QPR2 Beta 1, Beta 2, and Beta 3
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-01 - Google publishes the June 2026 Android Security Bulletin documenting CVE-2025-48652
- 2026-06-01 - CVE-2025-48652 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48652
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the performPreInstallChecks routine of InstallRepository.kt, a component of the Android PackageInstaller framework. This function evaluates whether a pending package installation complies with active device policies, including restrictions configured by an MDM device owner or profile owner. A logic error in the check sequence allows specific installation requests to skip enforcement of MDM-defined restrictions such as DISALLOW_INSTALL_APPS or DISALLOW_INSTALL_UNKNOWN_SOURCES.
An application running with standard permissions on the device can trigger the flawed code path. Because the pre-install validation returns a permissive result, the package installer proceeds with installation despite policy violations. The resulting installation effectively grants the attacker capabilities that the MDM administrator explicitly forbade, producing a local privilege escalation in the context of enterprise policy.
Root Cause
The root cause is a protection mechanism failure [CWE-693]. The conditional logic in performPreInstallChecks evaluates installation parameters in an order that lets controlled inputs short-circuit the policy lookup before MDM restrictions are consulted. As a result, restricted installation operations are treated as permitted.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction. A malicious application installed on a managed device crafts an installation session that triggers the flawed code path. The installer then accepts the request and provisions an application that MDM policy should have blocked, extending the attacker's foothold on the device.
No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin June 2026 for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48652
Indicators of Compromise
- Package installations on MDM-managed devices that occur despite active DISALLOW_INSTALL_APPS or related user restrictions.
- PackageInstaller session activity originating from non-system applications on enrolled devices.
- Newly installed applications that lack a corresponding MDM-approved deployment record.
Detection Strategies
- Correlate PackageInstaller events from Android logs with the MDM policy state for each device to flag installations that should have been blocked.
- Inventory installed applications across the managed fleet and compare against the MDM-approved application catalog to surface unauthorized additions.
- Monitor enterprise mobility management telemetry for policy enforcement failures or unexpected installation success events.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Android device logs and MDM audit events into a centralized analytics platform for cross-source correlation.
- Alert on first-seen package installs on managed devices that did not transit the MDM deployment workflow.
- Track Android build fingerprints across the fleet to identify devices still running unpatched 15.0 or 16.0 builds.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48652
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the June 2026 Android security patch level (2026-06-01 or later) to all affected devices through OEM update channels.
- Identify managed devices still running Android 15.0 or pre-patch 16.0 builds and prioritize them for update.
- Audit the application inventory on MDM-managed devices for installations that postdate the vulnerability disclosure.
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Android Security Bulletin June 2026. Devices must report a security patch level of 2026-06-01 or later to incorporate the corrected performPreInstallChecks logic. OEM and carrier rollout timelines vary, so administrators should track per-device patch level rather than Android version alone.
Workarounds
- Restrict sideloading by disabling installation from unknown sources at the MDM policy layer and enforcing Play Protect.
- Limit which applications may initiate PackageInstaller sessions through application allowlisting on managed profiles.
- Require attestation of the security patch level before granting access to sensitive enterprise resources via conditional access.
# Example: query the security patch level on an Android device via adb
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output for patched devices: 2026-06-01 or later
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
