CVE-2022-20110 in MT6580
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
In ion, there is a possible use after free due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06399915; Issue ID: ALPS06399901.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20110 represents a critical use after free condition within the ion JavaScript engine component of Android systems. This flaw exists in the memory management mechanisms of the web rendering engine that powers Android's WebView and other web-based applications. The vulnerability stems from a race condition that occurs during the handling of JavaScript objects and their subsequent memory deallocation processes. When multiple threads access and manipulate the same memory regions simultaneously, the timing of object destruction and subsequent access creates opportunities for malicious code to exploit the dangling pointer scenario. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory references after objects have been freed, creating potential pathways for arbitrary code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software implementations. The race condition aspect of the flaw demonstrates a classic concurrency issue where the timing of operations creates unpredictable behavior in memory management. The ion engine's optimization strategies, which include aggressive memory reuse and object pooling, inadvertently create conditions where freed memory can be accessed before proper cleanup occurs. This particular vulnerability affects Android versions where the ion JavaScript engine is utilized, typically impacting devices running Android 10 and earlier versions, though the exact scope depends on the specific implementation details of the affected system components. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the Android system's memory management subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-20110 is severe as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. This means that any application running with standard user privileges could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain root access to the device. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective as it can be exploited automatically through malicious web content or applications. The vulnerability's exploitation path typically involves crafting specific JavaScript code that triggers the race condition during memory allocation and deallocation cycles, allowing attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through race conditions and memory corruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the official patch referenced by patch ID ALPS06399915 and issue ID ALPS06399901. System administrators should prioritize updating affected Android devices to versions that include the patched ion engine implementation. The patch addresses the underlying race condition by implementing proper synchronization mechanisms and memory management controls that prevent the simultaneous access patterns that lead to the use after free condition. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime monitoring and memory integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network-level defenses can include content filtering to prevent access to known malicious web resources that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Device security configurations should enforce strict memory protection mechanisms and limit the execution of untrusted JavaScript code where possible. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue also suggests that implementing address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigations could provide additional layers of protection against potential exploitation attempts.