Android Framework Information Disclosure Vulnerability (CVE-2025-48633)

CVSS Score: 7.5 (High)

Detection / Disclosure Date: December 2025

Severity: High

Is it exploitable?

Yes. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within an affected Android device.

Patch Status:

Google has released patches for this vulnerability as part of their December 2025 security update. If you haven’t updated your Android device yet, it remains vulnerable.

What Is This Vulnerability?

This vulnerability resides in the Android Framework, affecting how certain information is stored and processed. It enables malicious apps to bypass security restrictions and access private data from other apps, like contact details, messages, or location data.

Why Should We Care?

Sensitive data, such as private contacts or location data, can be accessed by unauthorized apps, putting users at risk of data theft, privacy violations, or worse, identity theft.

How Does the Attack Work?

• Exploitation: The attacker installs a malicious app that exploits this flaw.
  • Data Exposure: The app gains access to restricted areas of the system or other apps’ private data.
  • The Result: The attacker can collect sensitive information from the device, potentially enabling further attacks.

What Could Happen if This Is Exploited?

• Data Theft: Personal information like contacts, messages, or location history can be stolen.
  • Privacy Breach: An attacker could track a victim’s movements and habits through stolen data.
  • Credential Theft: Access to sensitive data could allow attackers to steal login credentials, enabling further attacks on other accounts or services.

How to Protect Yourself (or Your Organization)

1. Update Your Android Devices: Ensure that all devices running affected versions of Android receive the latest security patch from Google.
2. Use Security Software: Employ anti-malware solutions that can detect and block malicious apps.
3. Avoid Unknown Sources: Only install apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store to minimize the risk of installing malicious software.
4. App Permissions: Regularly review app permissions to ensure that apps don’t have access to unnecessary data.

How to Detect This Attack

Look for signs of unusual app activity or access to data that doesn’t match app usage patterns.

1. Manual Detection:

• Check App Permissions: Review the permissions for apps installed on the device. Suspicious apps may request unnecessary access to sensitive data, such as contacts or location.
  • Look for Suspicious Apps: Apps that you don’t recognize or that you didn’t install could be used for exploiting this vulnerability.

2. Automated Tool Detection:

• Mobile Device Management (MDM) Tools: Tools like MobileIron, Workspace ONE, or Intune can monitor and flag unauthorized or suspicious app permissions and notify administrators when apps are accessing data that shouldn’t be.
  • Android Security Tools: Use Google Play Protect to automatically check for harmful apps and flag apps that attempt to access sensitive data without permission.

3. Payload Detection:

• If an attacker uses a malicious app to exploit this vulnerability, the app might attempt to collect and send data such as contacts, messages, or location to a remote server. Monitoring network traffic for unusual data transmissions (e.g., apps sending unexpected data to unknown IP addresses) can help identify exploitation.

Signs That an Attack Has Happened (Indicators of Compromise or IOCs)

Below is your list, expanded with additional Android-relevant IOCs based on common real-world malicious-app behavior:

Device / App Behavior IOCs

• Unexpected apps appearing with generic names (e.g., “UpdateService”, “SecurityCheck”).
• Apps attempting to access data outside their declared permissions.
• Apps accessing sensitive content (contacts, SMS, location) without a user action triggering the request.
• Increased battery drain caused by continuous background data harvesting.
• Sudden spikes in CPU usage or background processes.

Network IOCs

• Outbound traffic to suspicious or newly created domains.
• Apps with no networking function making persistent HTTPS requests.
• Repeated small packets consistent with stealth exfiltration of personal data.
• Communication with IP ranges associated with known malicious hosting providers.

System IOCs

• Modified system logs showing unusual binder calls or permission bypass attempts.
• Failed permission checks followed by successful access.
• Unexplained access attempts to other apps’ private directories.

User-Visible IOCs

• Unexpected notification prompts or permission requests.
• Messages appearing as “permissions used in background” for apps that should not need them.
• Sudden loss of stored authentication tokens in legitimate.

Detection Rules

Rule 1: Detect Unusual App Behavior

• title: Detect Unusual Access by Apps
  • description: Flags apps accessing data beyond their permissions.
  • logsource:
  • category: app_usage
  • product: android
  • detection:
  • selection:
  • action: access_data
  • condition: selection
  • level: high