The Android Security Bulletin, published on February 3, 2025, details security vulnerabilities impacting various Android devices and outlines actions needed to address them. Devices should be updated to security patch levels of 2025-02-05 or later to remediate all identified issues. To check their current patch level, users can consult guidance within the bulletin.
Android maintains a proactive approach by notifying partners of vulnerabilities at least a month before public release and has made source code patches available through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The bulletin categorizes vulnerabilities based on their severity and the likelihood of exploitation, with the most severe issues including a high-risk local escalation of privilege vulnerability within the Framework component.
One notable mention in the bulletin includes CVE-2024-53104, which is suspected to have been subject to limited and targeted exploitation, underscoring the urgency for users to install updates.
A comprehensive list of the vulnerabilities is provided under respective components, detailing associated Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifiers, references, vulnerability types, severity, and updated AOSP versions. Each vulnerability entry specifies the potential for exploitation, particularly emphasizing issues that could allow for local escalation of privilege without requiring additional execution privileges.
Component Vulnerabilities:
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Framework: This section lists multiple vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2024-49721, CVE-2024-49743) categorized as high severity and capable of escalating privileges. High severity origins are significant owing to the potential impact if exploited.
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Platform & System: Similar to the framework, several vulnerabilities related to the platform and system components are noted, again highlighting local elevation of privilege risks that are classified as high severity (e.g., CVE-2025-0091, CVE-2025-0094).
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Kernel: This group relates to upstream kernel vulnerabilities potentially leading to physical elevation of privilege. Specific vulnerabilities such as CVE-2024-53104 warrant attention due to their high risk.
- Component-Specific Issues: Vulnerabilities affecting various components notably include issues from manufacturers like MediaTek, Qualcomm, Imagination Technologies, Arm, and Unisoc. Each manufacturer provides severity assessments, and noted vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-20141 and CVE-2024-38404 require close monitoring and updating.
Mitigation Measures:
The bulletin underscores the importance of the Google Play Protect feature, which enhances overall device security by warning users about potentially harmful applications and mitigating exploitation risks associated with vulnerabilities. Users are advised to utilize the latest Android versions since enhancements in newer updates decrease vulnerability exploitation likelihood.
Additional Information for Users:
The bulletin explains how users can determine if their devices are updated by checking patch levels, which must be set as per specified standards for all issues documented. It also clarifies that having different patch levels allows manufacturers flexibility to address certain vulnerabilities promptly.
In addressing common inquiries, the bulletin outlines the definition of vulnerability types (e.g., RCE – Remote Code Execution, EoP – Elevation of Privilege), details the significance of addresses within the references column, and highlights the distinction between this bulletin and manufacturer-specific security advisories.
In summary, the Android Security Bulletin serves as a vital resource for understanding vulnerabilities across the Android ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of timely updates to enhance device security. Users are encouraged to stay vigilant and proactive about installing security patches to safeguard their devices against potential threats.