Medium

Remote DoS in Android Framework LocalImageResolver.onHeaderDecoded

IdentifiersCVE-2025-48631CWE-400· Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

CVE-2025-48631 is a critical Android Framework denial-of-service vulnerability affecting Android 13 through 16. The provided content states that the flaw is in onHeaderDecoded of LocalImageResolver.java and is caused by resource exhaustion, resulting in a possible persistent denial of service. Multiple supporting references describe it as remotely triggerable and requiring no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. Based on the available information, the vulnerable condition is an uncontrolled or excessive consumption of resources during image header decoding in the LocalImageResolver code path, which can be triggered remotely and can cause the device or affected service to become unresponsive or repeatedly unavailable.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can cause remote denial of service on affected Android devices. The content specifically indicates a possible persistent denial of service due to resource exhaustion, meaning the targeted process or device may become unresponsive, repeatedly crash, or remain in a degraded/unavailable state until recovery actions are taken. No privilege escalation or code execution is described in the provided material.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting untrusted remote content that can reach the vulnerable image-decoding path, especially workflows that cause LocalImageResolver to process attacker-controlled images or image headers. Prioritize patching internet-exposed, messaging-enabled, or content-processing use cases where remote delivery is plausible. Standard Android hardening measures such as rapid OTA deployment, restricting unnecessary content ingestion paths, and maintaining Google Play Protect and OEM security updates may reduce risk, but no complete mitigation short of patching is provided in the content.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the Android security updates that include the fix for CVE-2025-48631. The supplied content ties this vulnerability to the December 2025 Android Security Bulletin and indicates coverage in the relevant Android security patch levels for affected releases. Organizations should deploy the vendor/OEM update containing the December 2025 Android fixes and verify devices are updated to the applicable patched security level provided by the device manufacturer.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

GoogleAndroidoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

20 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

20 SOURCESView more in app

security affairsNews

Mar 3, 2026

Android devices hit by exploited Qualcomm flaw CVE-2026-21385

A critical Android System denial-of-service vulnerability that can cause device/service disruption without requiring extra privileges.

the hacker newsNews

Mar 3, 2026

Google Confirms CVE-2026-21385 in Qualcomm Android Component Exploited

Android System component denial-of-service vulnerability (critical-rated per the content).

the hacker newsNews

Mar 3, 2026

Google Confirms CVE-2026-21385 in Qualcomm Android Component Exploited

Android System component denial-of-service vulnerability.

cyber security newsNews

Mar 3, 2026

Android Security Update - Patch for 129 Vulnerabilities and Actively Exploited Zero-Day

A critical denial-of-service vulnerability in the Android System component.

+9 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity7