CVE-2022-20033 in MT6739
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
In camera driver, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS05862973; Issue ID: ALPS05862973.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20033 resides within the camera driver component of a mobile device operating system, specifically affecting the Android platform. This issue represents a critical security flaw that manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when the system attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw is particularly concerning because it stems from an incorrect bounds check implementation within the camera driver's memory management routines, allowing malicious code to potentially read sensitive data from adjacent memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of array indices or buffer limits during camera functionality operations. When the camera driver processes image data or handles camera-related system calls, it fails to properly validate input parameters or buffer sizes before performing memory access operations. This incorrect bounds checking creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the camera driver's execution flow to access memory locations that should remain protected, potentially exposing sensitive information such as kernel memory contents, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory segments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability requires system execution privileges to exploit successfully, indicating that it operates at the kernel level where the camera driver executes with elevated privileges. The lack of user interaction requirements for exploitation makes this flaw particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically without any user consent or awareness. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability could lead to significant security implications including exposure of system memory layouts, potential credential leakage, or access to other sensitive kernel data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the device's security model, as it allows for unauthorized data access at the system level.
The patch ID ALPS05862973 specifically addresses this issue by implementing corrected bounds checking mechanisms within the camera driver code. This fix typically involves strengthening the validation routines to properly verify all buffer access operations before allowing memory reads or writes. The remediation approach aligns with industry best practices for preventing out-of-bounds memory access vulnerabilities, which are commonly categorized under CWE-129 and CWE-787 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. These classifications specifically address insufficient bounds checking and out-of-bounds reads that can lead to information disclosure and privilege escalation attacks. The mitigation strategy also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privileges to gain system-level access and information gathering capabilities.
Security professionals should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The combination of kernel-level execution privileges required for exploitation and the automatic triggering capability makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or extract confidential data from mobile devices. Organizations should implement immediate patch deployment across affected systems while monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts that may indicate this vulnerability is being actively targeted in the wild.