CVE-2022-20116 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
In onEntryUpdated of OngoingCallController.kt, it is possible to launch non-exported activities due to intent redirection. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-12 Android-12LAndroid ID: A-212467440
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20116 resides within the Android operating system's OngoingCallController.kt component, specifically in the onEntryUpdated method where improper intent handling creates a pathway for unauthorized activity execution. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows malicious actors to exploit intent redirection mechanisms to launch non-exported activities that would normally be inaccessible to regular applications. The vulnerability specifically affects Android 12 and Android 12L versions, making a significant portion of the Android ecosystem susceptible to this attack vector. According to the Android security advisory A-212467440, the issue stems from insufficient validation of intent parameters that are processed during call state updates, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation without requiring user interaction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of Android intents within the telephony subsystem where the system processes call entry updates. When an application receives a call update notification, the OngoingCallController.kt component processes incoming intents without adequate verification of their source or target components. This lack of proper intent validation allows an attacker to manipulate the intent parameters to redirect execution to non-exported activities that are protected by the Android permission model. The flaw essentially creates a bypass mechanism where malicious intent objects can be crafted to target internal system components that should remain hidden from regular application access, effectively undermining the Android security boundary enforcement.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-20116 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise through lateral movement and information extraction. An attacker with user-level privileges can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of system components that should only be accessible to privileged system applications. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive telephony data, modification of call handling behavior, or even complete system control. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-707 indicates it involves improper handling of intent objects and could facilitate various attack patterns including privilege escalation, information disclosure, and potentially remote code execution depending on the specific implementation details. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate patching and defensive configuration measures. Android device manufacturers and carriers must deploy the relevant security updates that address the intent validation flaw in the OngoingCallController component. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can process telephony-related intents and monitor for unusual intent handling patterns. The Android security model's principle of least privilege should be enforced more strictly, ensuring that system components only accept intents from verified sources. Additionally, developers should implement proper intent validation checks in their applications and avoid using non-exported activities as targets for intent redirection. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious intent handling behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure intent handling practices in Android application development and the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components.