A Critical Security Warning by Google For All Pixel Users

Google surprised Pixel users by releasing a security update that didn’t include any actual security fixes. But in August, things are back on track. Google has confirmed a critical security vulnerability that allows remote attacks on phones.

Interestingly, this threat only affects Android 16, the latest version of Android. So, there’s some good news for Samsung users, who have been frustrated with delays in Android upgrades from their company.

Google warns about the vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48530. It can lead to remote code execution when combined with other bugs, and no extra permissions are needed. Even more troubling, the flaw can be exploited without any user interaction because it is a system-level issue.

Adam Boynton from Jamf said that even though August’s Android Security Bulletin has fewer issues compared to earlier this year, the seriousness of the bugs cannot be ignored. He especially highlighted CVE-2025-48530 as a critical system-level vulnerability that allows remote code execution without user interaction or higher privileges.

This isn’t the only fix in the update; several other high-severity vulnerabilities have been addressed too. But the critical bug is getting the most attention since it only affects the latest Android version. Pixels are the first phones getting this update.

The update will roll out to Pixels within days. This contrasts with Samsung phones, which still get updates in a patchy way, depending on region, model, and carrier. Samsung lacks “seamless” updates across most devices like Google’s Pixel phones.

Other smartphone owners, including Samsung users, should also check their monthly security bulletins to see if the fixes are included, along with details on timing and model eligibility. Samsung’s own August security update has just been released as well.