CVE-2022-20102 in MT6580
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
In aee daemon, there is a possible information disclosure due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06296442; Issue ID: ALPS06296405.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The CVE-2022-20102 vulnerability resides within the aee daemon component of Android-based systems, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines system security through insufficient access controls. This daemon operates with elevated privileges and serves as a crucial system service responsible for handling crash reports and system diagnostics. The vulnerability manifests when the daemon fails to properly validate permissions before exposing sensitive system information, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to confidential data that should only be accessible to system-level processes.
This technical flaw constitutes a classic permission bypass vulnerability that aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms in software systems. The vulnerability exists within the daemon's request handling logic where it processes incoming requests without performing adequate authentication checks. The aee daemon typically operates with system-level privileges, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges or extract sensitive information from the device. The missing permission check creates a direct attack vector that allows local processes with minimal privileges to access system resources that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to system crash logs, memory dumps, and other diagnostic information that could reveal system architecture, software versions, and potential security weaknesses. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the device's internal workings, potentially identifying other exploitable components or vulnerabilities within the system. The requirement for System execution privileges indicates that the attack vector involves either a malicious application with system-level access or a process that has already compromised the device's security boundaries. This vulnerability particularly affects Android devices where the aee daemon is part of the system's core services and is essential for proper device functionality.
The exploitation of this vulnerability does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be automated and executed silently in the background. The patch ID ALPS06296442 and Issue ID ALPS06296405 indicate that this vulnerability was addressed through a system-level update that implemented proper permission checking mechanisms within the daemon's code. Security professionals should prioritize patching devices running vulnerable versions of the Android operating system, particularly those that have been compromised or are operating in high-security environments. Organizations should implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and review system logs for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and access control implementation in system-level services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through improper access controls. Given the nature of the vulnerability, system administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of all daemon processes and ensure that proper input validation and access control mechanisms are in place to prevent similar issues from occurring in other system components.