After initially remaining silent, OnePlus is promising a patch for a software flaw that paves a way for third-party mobile apps to invade your privacy and even steal sensitive two-factor authentication codes.
The cybersecurity vendor Rapid7 disclosed the vulnerability on Monday, saying it had originally tried to reach out to OnePlus back in May about patching the flaw. But despite repeated emails and messages, Rapid7 said it had never received a response.
As a result, the flaw remains unpatched. The vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2025-10184, affects the Android-based OxygenOS, which is installed on OnePlus handsets. According to Rapid7, any installed mobile app can abuse the flaw to secretly access SMS/MMS and certain metadata on the phone “without permission, user interaction, or consent.”
“The user is also not notified that SMS data is being accessed. This could lead to sensitive information disclosure and could effectively break the security provided by SMS-based Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) checks,” the report added.
That’s especially concerning because some online services still deliver two-factor authentication codes via SMS, rather than through an authenticator app. CVE-2025-10184 can theoretically let a third-party mobile app, including any installed malware, intercept these time-sensitive codes.
Rapid7 added: “A wide-reaching issue like this could be a boon to both state-sponsored adversaries looking to surveil victims and authoritarian regimes looking to oppress political dissidence.”
The good news is that Rapid7 said OnePlus has finally responded to the vulnerability report. The smartphone vendor also told PCMag this morning: “We acknowledge the recent disclosure of CVE-2025-10184 and have implemented a fix. This will be rolled out globally via software update starting from mid-October. OnePlus remains committed to protecting customer data and will continue to prioritize security improvements.”
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However, the company didn’t specify which phones are affected, although it likely affects any OnePlus handset running OxygenOS 15, the latest version.
Rapid7 has only tested and confirmed the flaw on a OnePlus 8T running OxygenOS 12 and on a OnePlus 10 Pro running OxygenOS 14 and 15. “The versions of OxygenOS 11 that were tested were not vulnerable. As such, we consider the issue to have been introduced as part of OxygenOS 12,” Rapid7 added.
In the meantime, affected users should look out for an October software update from OnePlus, which has committed to providing security patches to its phones for a minimum of three years.
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About Our Expert
Michael right
Senior Reporter
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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