Analysis Summary

Google has released the March 2025 Android Security Bulletin, addressing 44 vulnerabilities, including two high-severity flaws that have been actively exploited.

CVE-2024-43093 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Framework component, allowing unauthorized access to directories such as "Android/data," "Android/obb," and "Android/sandbox." This flaw was previously flagged in Google's November 2024 advisory as actively exploited, though the reason for its reissuance remains unclear.

CVE-2024-50302 is another privilege escalation issue affecting the HID USB component of the Linux kernel. It enables a local attacker to leak uninitialized kernel memory using specially crafted HID reports. This flaw was part of a zero-day exploit used by Cellebrite to compromise the Android phone of a Serbian youth activist in December 2024. The attack involved chaining CVE-2024-50302 with CVE-2024-53104 and CVE-2024-53197 to achieve elevated privileges and potentially deploy the NoviSpy spyware. All three Linux kernel vulnerabilities were patched last year, with CVE-2024-53104 addressed in Android’s February 2025 update.

Google has acknowledged that both CVE-2024-43093 and CVE-2024-50302 have been subject to "limited, targeted exploitation." To facilitate timely patching, the company has released two security patch levels, 2025-03-01 and 2025-03-05, allowing Android partners to address shared vulnerabilities more efficiently.

Impact

• Privilege Escalation
• Unauthorized Access

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2024-43093

• CVE-2024-50302

Remediation

• Refer to Google Website for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.