Android Runtime Use-After-Free (CVE-2025-48543)

Historical catalog analysis: CISA added this entry on September 04, 2025. The entry reflects catalog information retrieved on August 31, 2026, not a snapshot archived on the inclusion date. Check current vendor guidance before acting.

What the vulnerability is

CVE-2025-48543 is a use-after-free vulnerability located within the Android Runtime. According to CISA, this flaw potentially allows an attacker to achieve a Chrome sandbox escape, which could subsequently lead to local privilege escalation on the affected device.

Exposure and applicability

This vulnerability affects systems utilizing the Android Runtime. The primary exposure path involves the Chrome browser’s sandbox; if an attacker can trigger the use-after-free condition within the runtime, they may bypass the isolation boundaries intended to restrict the browser’s access to the underlying operating system. This makes the flaw particularly relevant for organizations managing fleets of Android mobile devices or tablets where web browsing is a primary activity.

Remediation priorities

Based on the inclusion of this vulnerability in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, remediation should be prioritized to prevent local privilege escalation. Our analysis suggests the following priority sequence:

1. Vendor Patch Deployment: The primary corrective action is the application of mitigations provided by the vendor. Infrastructure owners should identify all Android devices in their environment and apply the latest security updates that address CVE-2025-48543.
2. Cloud Service Review: For organizations utilizing Android-based cloud services, we recommend reviewing configurations against BOD 22-01 guidance to ensure that runtime exposures are minimized at the platform level.
3. Asset Decommissioning: In scenarios where a device is end-of-life and no vendor mitigation is available, the risk of sandbox escape may necessitate discontinuing use of the product.

How to validate remediation

Verification must go beyond a simple version check, as the presence of a specific OS version does not always guarantee that the runtime patch was successfully applied and initialized. To verify that exposure has been reduced, defenders should:

• Confirm Patch Application: Cross-reference the installed security patch level against the vendor’s specific bulletin for September 2025 to ensure CVE-2025-48543 is explicitly covered.
• Verify Runtime Integrity: Use authorized mobile device management (MDM) tools to confirm that the updated Android Runtime binaries are active and running on the hardware.

Limits and open questions

While patching reduces the likelihood of exploitation, residual risk remains if other unpatched vulnerabilities in the browser or kernel can be chained with this flaw. It is currently unknown whether this vulnerability has been utilized by ransomware campaigns. Additionally, because the source provides a CISA catalog inclusion date rather than an original disclosure date, the exact window of exposure prior to the September 2025 updates remains undefined.

Source and editorial note

CVE-2025-48543: Android Runtime Use-After-Free Vulnerability · Source date: September 04, 2025 · Retrieved August 31, 2026.

Material facts are tied to the cited primary source. Recommendations are independent defensive analysis unless attributed to the source. Confirm consequential decisions against current authoritative guidance.

Archive date: September 07, 2025. The displayed post date is assigned three days after the source date to organize this retrospective archive; it does not mean this site published the analysis then. First published by this site: October 03, 2026 at 00:28 UTC.

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