CVE-2022-20051 in MT6731
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
In ims service, there is a possible unexpected application behavior due to incorrect privilege assignment. This could lead to local denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06219127; Issue ID: ALPS06219127.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20051 resides within the ims service component of Android operating systems, representing a critical privilege assignment flaw that compromises system integrity. This issue stems from improper handling of application permissions and access controls within the telephony subsystem, specifically affecting how the ims service manages its operational context and resource access. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to correctly enforce privilege boundaries, allowing for unintended behavior that can escalate to denial of service conditions. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates without requiring any user interaction or additional execution privileges, making it highly exploitable in automated attack scenarios. The patch identifier ALPS06219127 references the specific Android Level Platform Software (ALPS) framework where this vulnerability was discovered and subsequently addressed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a misconfiguration in the privilege escalation mechanisms within the ims service, which typically manages IP Multimedia Subsystem functionality for voice and video communication over packet-switched networks. When the service initializes or processes incoming requests, it fails to properly validate or enforce the privilege levels of calling processes, creating a potential attack vector where malicious code can manipulate the service's operational behavior. This misassignment allows for unauthorized access to system resources that should be restricted to privileged components only, leading to unpredictable application states and potential system instability. The flaw operates at the kernel level or system service layer where privilege checking mechanisms are bypassed, enabling local processes to interfere with the normal operation of the ims service.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to device availability and communication integrity as it can trigger local denial of service conditions that disrupt critical telephony functions. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the entire communication stack of affected devices, affecting voice calls, video conferencing, and messaging services that rely on the ims infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to repeatedly crash the ims service, rendering devices unable to establish or maintain communication sessions, which could be particularly devastating in emergency communication scenarios or enterprise environments where reliable connectivity is paramount. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited silently during normal device operation without any warning to users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-20051 should focus on implementing proper privilege validation mechanisms and ensuring that all system services maintain strict access controls over their operational contexts. Organizations should prioritize applying the patch ALPS06219127 as soon as possible, which addresses the privilege assignment issue through updated service initialization routines and enhanced permission checking protocols. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns in the ims service, particularly around privilege escalation attempts or unexpected service restarts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving the exploitation of legitimate credentials for privilege escalation. Additionally, system administrators should review and harden the privilege assignments for all telephony-related services to prevent similar issues in other components of the communication stack.