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Mallory
High

Android System CertInstaller permission bypass local privilege escalation

IdentifiersCVE-2025-48575CWE-863

CVE-2025-48575 is an Android System elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in multiple functions of CertInstaller.java. According to the provided description, the flaw is caused by a permissions bypass that makes it possible to install certificates without the intended authorization checks. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to abuse certificate installation functionality and elevate privileges. The issue does not require user interaction and does not require additional execution privileges beyond a local app context.

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For your environment

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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 result in local escalation of privilege on affected Android devices. Because the vulnerability enables unauthorized certificate installation through a permissions bypass, an attacker may be able to alter device trust settings or otherwise gain elevated capabilities associated with certificate management. The provided information specifically states that no user interaction is required and no additional execution privileges are needed.

Mitigation

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

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting installation of untrusted applications, enforcing application allowlisting or managed app deployment, and restricting local code execution to trusted software only. Enterprise mobility controls that prevent sideloading and require timely security update compliance can reduce risk. However, no complete mitigation is provided in the source content; patching is the primary corrective action.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the Android security updates that address CVE-2025-48575. The provided bulletin context indicates that Google’s December 2025 Android Security Bulletin includes fixes for this issue, and devices updated to the 2025-12-05 patch level are described as fully remediated for issues disclosed in that bulletin. OEM and downstream vendor updates should also be applied where applicable.
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

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

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

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 activity3

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.