Local privilege escalation via automatic contact import
Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Incorrect authorization in Android 13 through 16 allows local users to add contacts without permission through the Contacts app. SelectAccountActivity.onCreate automatically imports contacts when only one account exists instead of presenting the account-selection dialog that blocks unauthorized import. Exploitation requires low-privileged local execution but no user interaction, and the resulting write adds contacts outside the caller's granted permissions.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect authorization in Android 13 through 16 allows local users to add contacts without permission through the Contacts app. SelectAccountActivity.onCreate automatically imports contacts when only one account exists instead of presenting the account-selection dialog that blocks unauthorized import. Exploitation requires low-privileged local execution but no user interaction, and the resulting write adds contacts outside the caller's granted permissions.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-48523
- Published
- Sep 4, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- CWE-863
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=13
- Affected versionversion=14
- Affected versionversion=15
- Affected versionversion=16
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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