CVE-2025-48633 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/08/2025
In hasAccountsOnAnyUser of DevicePolicyManagerService.java, there is a possible way to add a Device Owner after provisioning 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 • 03/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48633 resides within the DevicePolicyManagerService.java component of an Android system, specifically within the hasAccountsOnAnyUser method. This flaw represents a critical logic error that enables unauthorized privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability occurs during the device provisioning process when the system fails to properly validate whether a device owner can be established, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation checks within the device policy management service. When the hasAccountsOnAnyUser method processes account information, it contains a logic flaw that permits the addition of device owner privileges even when such actions should be restricted. This condition allows an attacker to bypass normal authorization procedures that would typically prevent unauthorized entities from assuming device owner status. The flaw operates at the system level where device policy enforcement mechanisms fail to properly verify the legitimacy of device owner assignment requests, creating a persistent backdoor for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-48633 is severe and far-reaching, as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any user interaction or additional execution privileges. This means that any local attacker with access to the system can exploit this vulnerability to gain device owner privileges, which provides complete control over the device including the ability to install malicious applications, modify system settings, access all user data, and potentially enable persistent backdoors. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any human intervention, rendering traditional user awareness-based defenses ineffective.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically representing improper access control where the system fails to properly enforce authorization checks. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system-level flaws. The absence of user interaction requirements places this vulnerability in the category of automated exploitation techniques that can be leveraged by malware or other malicious actors without requiring social engineering or user deception. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized device owner assignments and establish strict access control policies that can detect and prevent such privilege escalation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-48633 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems and implementation of additional access control measures. System administrators should ensure that all devices are updated with the latest security patches that address this logic error in the DevicePolicyManagerService. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict device policy enforcement, monitoring for unauthorized device owner changes, and establishing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any existing malicious actors that may have already exploited this vulnerability and implement enhanced logging and monitoring capabilities to detect suspicious privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper access control validation in system-level services and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device policy management components.