Local privilege escalation via mismatched Intent deserialization
Published Sep 4, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Unsafe deserialization in Android System Settings 13 through 16 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through a crafted Intent. assertSafeToStartCustomActivity resolved the supplied Intent before copying it, allowing mismatched parcel deserialization to make the validated and launched contents differ. Exploitation requires local app-level access but no user interaction and can launch an otherwise unauthorized activity.
Summary
What happened
Unsafe deserialization in Android System Settings 13 through 16 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through a crafted Intent. assertSafeToStartCustomActivity resolved the supplied Intent before copying it, allowing mismatched parcel deserialization to make the validated and launched contents differ. Exploitation requires local app-level access but no user interaction and can launch an otherwise unauthorized activity.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-48535
- Published
- Sep 4, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Google Cloud
- Product
- Android
- Classifications
- CWE-502, T1404
- 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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