CVE-2025-48522 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
In setDisplayName of AssociationRequest.java, there is a possible way for an app to retain CDM association due to a logic error in the code. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48522 resides within the AssociationRequest.java file, specifically in the setDisplayName method implementation. This flaw represents a critical logic error that affects the Common Device Management (CDM) association handling mechanism within Android systems. The vulnerability manifests when an application attempts to establish or modify device association parameters, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The issue stems from improper validation or handling of display name parameters during the association process, allowing malicious applications to maintain unauthorized access to CDM associations that should have been terminated or properly validated.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the setDisplayName method, which controls how device association information is processed and maintained. When an application invokes this method with crafted parameters, the flawed logic fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, potentially allowing persistence of unauthorized CDM associations. This logic error creates a condition where the system does not properly enforce the expected security boundaries between different application contexts or user sessions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and represents a specific implementation flaw in the device management framework that should enforce strict association validation. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this particularly concerning as it enables automated exploitation without requiring physical access or user consent.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-48522 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise the entire device management infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could maintain persistent access to device management functions that are typically restricted to authorized applications or system processes. This persistent access could enable further attacks such as data exfiltration, device configuration modification, or even broader system compromise through the exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may be accessible through the maintained CDM association. The vulnerability affects the core device management security model by undermining the integrity of association validation processes that are fundamental to Android's security architecture. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries can leverage application-level flaws to gain elevated privileges without additional attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-48522 should focus on immediate code-level fixes within the AssociationRequest.java implementation to properly validate and sanitize display name parameters before processing them in the CDM association context. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized CDM association attempts and establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates. The fix should include proper input validation mechanisms that prevent malformed or unauthorized parameters from being processed through the setDisplayName method, effectively closing the logic gap that enables persistent associations. Security teams should also consider implementing application sandboxing measures and access control policies that limit the scope of CDM associations to prevent unauthorized persistence. Additionally, regular security assessments of device management frameworks should be conducted to identify similar logic errors that could create analogous privilege escalation pathways. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper validation in security-sensitive code paths and highlights the need for comprehensive code reviews focused on access control mechanisms within mobile device management systems.