Google Patches CVE-2025-48572 in December Update

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In December 2025 Google issued a security update that fixed CVE-2025-48572, an elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Android Framework. That phrasing “elevation of privilege” means a local app with limited rights could gain deeper access on a device, potentially allowing the app to run code it shouldn’t.

Google flagged this issue along with a sibling problem (CVE-2025-48633) as possibly subject to limited, targeted exploitation. The repair landed in the December Android security bulletin and is included in devices that show a security patch level of 2025-12-01 or, for fuller device roll-ups, 2025-12-05 and later.

What CVE-2025-48572 is and How it Behaves

CVE-2025-48572 is a vulnerability rooted in Android’s Framework layer, the part of the system that manages apps, permissions, and many of the services apps rely on. A local application (meaning one installed on the device already) could exploit the flaw to gain privileges beyond what it was granted by the operating system. In plain language: a seemingly harmless app could trick the system into giving it more control than it should have.

Google’s bulletin described this as an elevation-of-privilege issue and explicitly warned that there were signs the bug may have been exploited in targeted attacks. When vendors use the phrase “limited, targeted exploitation,” they’re saying there are reports or telemetry suggesting real-world misuse, but not a broad, public campaign.

For most people the risk is not constant or universal, but it is one of the scenarios where timely updates make a clear difference.

How Google Fixed CVE-2025-48572 in the December 2025 update

Google bundled the repair into the December 2025 Android Security Bulletin. The fix touches the Framework component across multiple Android releases; the bulletin lists Android 13, 14, 15 and 16 among the affected versions.

The technical write-up in the bulletin is brief, intentionally so, because revealing exploit details before patches are widespread can enable more attackers to copycat the same approach.

Two patch levels are relevant. The first is 2025-12-01, which contains the core Framework fixes including CVE-2025-48572.

Some manufacturers and carriers package additional vendor or kernel fixes into later roll-outs, and Google’s ecosystem references 2025-12-05 as the patch level that many devices will ultimately show once those roll-ups are applied. In short: if your phone shows a December 2025 patch level, that’s the indicator to look for, but the exact number (01 vs 05) depends on how your device maker bundles updates.

Because the flaw could be used by a local app, the update is defensive in two ways: it removes the programming flaw that made privilege escalation possible, and it reduces the window in which attackers can use an exploit before the patched code reaches devices.

Why Public Agencies and Companies Flagged CVE-2025-48572

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added CVE-2025-48572, along with the related CVE-2025-48633, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

That listing is a clear signal to organizations: this isn’t purely academic research, this reflects real-world exploitation or credible reports of it. Inclusion in KEV means administrators should prioritize patches within their normal change-management process.

For businesses and institutions, a Framework-level issue is particularly sensitive because mobile devices are often gateways to corporate data (email, cloud storage, single sign-on tokens) and employee devices may connect to internal systems. For individuals, the practical consequence is simpler: apply updates and be cautious about apps from unknown sources.

What to do on Your Phone: Practical Steps

Start by checking your device’s security update level. The exact menu names vary by manufacturer, but the path looks like this on most Android phones:

Open Settings and find System or About phone.
Look for Android security update or Security patch level.
If the patch level shows 2025-12-01 or 2025-12-05 (or a later date), the fixes for December are present.

If your device hasn’t received the December patch yet, check for updates manually. Pixel devices and some manufacturer flagship lines receive monthly updates quickly; other phones get them later depending on vendor and carrier testing.

If you’re on a managed device (work phone), contact your IT or security team and ask about the December 2025 bulletin, administrators may apply updates centrally or provide guidance.

Beyond installing the update, maintain these habits: keep Google Play Protect enabled (it inspects apps and flags risky behavior), avoid sideloading apps from unknown sources, and review app permissions periodically. Because CVE-2025-48572 is a local-app issue, a malicious app sideloaded from an unfamiliar site is a more direct risk than an app installed from the official Play Store, though no distribution channel is perfect.

What Organizations Should do Differently

For IT managers and security teams, take the CISA KEV listing seriously. Prioritize devices and endpoints that handle sensitive data or have privileged access to corporate resources.

Establish a short verification window to confirm device patch levels across mobile device management (MDM) systems, and document exceptions where devices cannot be updated immediately.

If you operate a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program, reinforce guidance to employees about updating phones promptly and avoiding risky app installs.

If a device shows signs of suspicious behavior, unknown background activity, unfamiliar apps, or repeated crashes, treat it as a potential compromise, isolate it from corporate networks, and follow your incident response playbook.

Check your phone’s security patch level now; aim for the December 2025 update (2025-12-01 or 2025-12-05 shown).
Install any available system updates from your manufacturer or carrier.
Keep Play Protect active and avoid sideloading apps you can’t verify.
If a device shows unusual behavior after installing apps, consider removing the app, backing up essential data, and if necessary, resetting the device.
Organizations: prioritize mobile patching and track compliance through your MDM or equivalent tools.

Closing thought

Vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-48572 are reminders that complex software changes constantly and that small coding errors can have wide consequences.

The good news here is that a fix exists and has been published; the next step is the one people control: updating devices and reducing opportunities for malicious apps to gain a foothold.

A few minutes spent on system updates and app hygiene today keeps you far safer tomorrow.