Overview
This report analyses the cybersecurity vulnerability, CVE-2025-48541, a flaw that exists in the onCreate function of FaceSettings.java. It potentially allows the removal of biometric unlock across user profiles due to inadequate input validation, leading to a local escalation of privilege. This vulnerability is of significant concern to all users and organizations that employ biometric authentication, as it could lead to system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48541
Severity: High (7.8 on the CVSS Severity Scale)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Android Biometric API | Unknown (pending vendor disclosure)
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of improper input validation in the onCreate function of FaceSettings.java. This function is designed to initialize face settings for biometric unlock on the device. However, an attacker can leverage this vulnerability to inject improper inputs that could manipulate the application logic and potentially remove biometric unlock across different user profiles. This could lead to the attacker gaining unauthorized access to the device contents and potentially escalate their privileges.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a
conceptual
example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This pseudo code demonstrates a potential method of injecting improper inputs:
// Pseudocode
import android.hardware.biometrics;
class Exploit {
public static void main(String[] args) {
BiometricManager biometricManager = BiometricManager.from(context);
if(biometricManager.canAuthenticate() == BiometricManager.BIOMETRIC_SUCCESS) {
// Executing improper input to remove biometric unlock
biometricManager.removeBiometricUnlock(UserManager.DISALLOW_REMOVE_USER);
}
}
}Remember, this code is hypothetical and only serves to help understand the potential exploit. Always follow ethical guidelines when dealing with cybersecurity.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch once it becomes available. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure.
